What are comets? Where do they come from? How are they found? How have human ideas about comets in the night sky changed over time? Did you know that there are at least two, possibly three types of comets? A PowerPoint presentation will include many examples of famous comets that were visible to observers.
Presenter: Bruce Oldfield, Professor Emeritus, SUNY-Broome.
Class is limited to 29
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Why do some neurological diseases only appear in certain cultures? How can Parkinson’s patients who barely walk, suddenly dance? This interdisciplinary course explores enigmatic neurological conditions worldwide through medical anthropology and neuroscience--from Italian "spider bite" dance cures to unexplained disease clusters in remote villages–discovering how the brain, culture, and environment create medicine's most puzzling conditions. Unravel medical mysteries across diverse societies. Non-specialists welcome.
Presenter: Sara Stowell, MS, Lyceum Grant Recipient.
Class is limited to 29
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Slides of our personalized, six person (three couples) tour around some of the many beautiful, interesting and exciting locations and the many activities we experienced will be presented.
Presenter: Dr. Leslie Bank.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Long ago, on a spring morning in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate passed judgement on a mysterious preacher. Jesus of Nazareth was disfigured by scourges and nailed to a cross shortly after. He died in agony. The effects of this verdict have reverberated throughout the world. Why did Pontius Pilate condemn Jesus? What was Jesus’ crime? This course explores such questions.
Presenter: Nathaniel Andrade, Professor of History, BU.
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
AI is now everywhere, and it has come to a computer and phone near you! In this new four-session series, we’ll explore the most important new developments, and try them out together in a relaxed, step-by-step way. Each session includes demonstrations and guided practice, showing how AI can simplify tasks, spark creativity, and keep you connected. Whether you joined us before or are new to AI, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding and the confidence to explore it on your own.
Presenter: Ary Aranguiz, Learning & Development Operations Manager for Google Fiber.
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
This two-session course tells the story of Mollie and George Bakeman, who fell in love in Russia in 1917: Mollie, an Anglo-Russian working in Moscow, and George, an American at the US Embassy. Diaries, letters, and photos capture daily life during tumultuous times, including Mollie’s departure on the Trans-Siberian Railway, George’s escape from Archangel dressed as a British sailor, and life in Europe during the interwar years. Mollie and George raised their daughters in Europe until WWII. George’s study of sanitary engineering (public health) opened the door to his career with the American Red Cross, US Department of State, Rockefeller Foundation (Paris), and Medical College of Virginia. He returned to Europe as Director of American Relief for France, 1945-1946. Scheduling note: the second session occurs two weeks after the first.
Presenter: Heather Struck, retired educator and lawyer, and keeper of the archive from her maternal grandparents.
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
The hellishness of war manifests itself in individualistic ways. But imagine returning home from war with a form of amnesia that allows you to remember a former relationship, while you cannot remember your spouse. Let us also imagine that stimulating complications ensue. This is Rebecca West’s premise in her debut novel The Return of the Soldier, published in 1918. We will dig deep into the psychological ramification for each of the lead characters. The novel is short (82 pages), so reading it before classes begin is encouraged.
Presenter: George Lohmann.
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Non-scientists welcome! Bring your curiosity and set politics aside for a couple hours. We offer short presentations and videos on a wide variety of science and technology topics. Questions, comments, and discussion are encouraged. Each class covers different subjects, depending on the interests of the discussion leader and class members. In the recent past, we covered scores of topics: a Mars helicopter, moth delights, human longevity, AI in medicine, electric vehicles, earthquake monitoring, clinical oncology, and much more, often presented by class members or outside guests.
Presenter: Art Law, Alan Jones, Peter Stiles.
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
The Music Department faculty duo of Margaret Reitz, piano, and Timothy Perry, clarinet, present a lecture-recital “What’s This Supposed to Sound Like?” Eight selections, each performed with commentary on a rare historical clarinet from Professor Perry’s personal collection. This class will take place in the Casadesus Recital Hall located on the Binghamton University campus and will not be recorded.
Presenter: Tim Perry and Pej Reitz, BU Department of Music.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Casadesus Recital Hall, Binghamton University Campus
Notes: Offsite at Casadesus Recital Hall, Binghamton University Campus
Memory is important for far more than just recollecting the events of our lives. It is necessary for many daily cognitive challenges, from decision-making to creative thinking. This class will explore how the brain’s memory systems support other forms of cognition and how that applies to daily life.
Presenter: Michael Dulas, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology, BU.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Discover what it’s like to move to a country where you don’t speak the language but slowly make that country your home. This talk explores ten years of living and traveling in China, filled with cultural lessons, funny mishaps, meaningful moments, and reflections on how life abroad reshapes our understanding of connection and belonging. Sarah offers a first-hand view of how China has changed--including a glimpse of life during the pandemic.
Presenter: Sarah Alexander.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
What are asteroids and meteorites? Where do they come from? Why should we study asteroids and meteorites? This lecture will answer these questions using the latest science information. Several samples of meteorites will be used to illustrate some of the types of meteorites. Being present in the classroom at WSKG will mean you can see and handle the specimens.
Presenter: Bruce Oldfield, Professor Emeritus, SUNY-Broome.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Learn about infrequently visited museums and historical sites in England that are often easy to get to, but seldom thought of when traveling. We will look at common tourist hot spots like Stonehenge and the Imperial War Museum but also include the D-Day landing beaches, the Bovington Tank Museum, and the National Army Museum (in London.) You will gain a greater appreciation of British military history and be able to locate historical sites to visit on your next journey to the UK. This program will not be recorded.
Presenter: Russell Wendling, tourist.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Is the UN performing the duties assigned to it under its initial charter? Has it expanded its activities effectively in areas where its influence usurps the sovereign authority of nations? Are its activities too costly for measured outcomes? Should its physical presence be changed to Europe? Be prepared to engage with some facts on each question.
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
This two-session class is designed for both beginning and experienced meditators. There are no impossible-to-do techniques, no uncomfortable postures, no dogma or dependence on a guide. Rather you will sample and practice a variety of some of the simplest and most widely practiced meditation practices in the Western world so that you can discover which technique suits you and your lifestyle best. We will also explore when, where and how long to meditate as well as ways to prepare for meditation, overcome obstacles, and develop a personal practice. In this time of overstimulation, uncertainty, and anxiety, meditation is a great gift to give yourself.
Presenter: Karen Catalano, M. Ed., certified yoga and meditation instructor.
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
The League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties strongly supports voting rights. How are proposed laws/rules (SAVE Act) threatening your voting rights, limiting LWV's access to naturalization ceremonies, pushing redistricting efforts, and reducing ballot access for all eligible voters? We will also explain how ranked choice voting works. Join us!
Presenter: Susan Ruff, LWVBTC President, and Carla Michalak, LWVBTC Vice President.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
This talk will chronicle the rise of ICE and the tactics used by the Trump administration and the rise of resistance against them. It will describe the actions of collaborators both locally and nationally and the growing threat of autocratic rule. It will detail resistance on the local, state and national levels and conclude with a call to action with very specific ways anyone can be involved. Unless we act, Marin Niemoller’s words will be our epitaph.
Presenter: Adam Flint, Coordinator of Concerned Residents of Greater Binghamton.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Experience Jonathan and Rhonda's 10-day safari touring Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Central Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Amboseli National Park: a journey among the wilds of Kenya and Tanzania.
Presenter: Jonathon Cohen, University Photographer, BU, Div. of Communications and Marketing, and Rhonda Branca, Binghamton Lyceum Director.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Doug Weeks has presented living history programs for many years. He will take us back to 1867, introducing us to Reverend James C. Beecher from Owego. As Mr. Beecher, he will share stories of his time serving in the US Navy and US Army during the recent Civil War. Beecher was one of the unsung soldiers who fought hard during the war and then helped to re-build the South.
Presenter: Douglas Weeks.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Zoom
Notes: Zoom only
John Green, acclaimed author and passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest infectious disease. According to the Associated Press: “The real magic of Green’s writing is the deeply considerate, human touch that goes into every word.”
Presenter: Sandy Stiles.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
How do you define a genetically modified organism (GMO)? How are GMOs made? What are they used for and are GMOs safe? In the first session, we will discuss what makes an organism a GMO, learn how GMOs are made, and talk about why and how they are regulated. We will also survey several different types of GMOs and their applications in healthcare, agriculture and scientific research. For the second session, be ready to get into the details of specific GMOs. Are you interested in mosquito killers, human-pig kidneys, or glowing fish in your aquarium? We will choose two or three examples and talk about these GMOs in detail.
Presenter: Anthony Fiumera, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, BU.
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Biking through Belgium and the Netherlands is a great way to see these inviting countries. Vibrant cities, pastoral countryside, and quaint towns--historical splendor abounds. Getting back to the barge (turned into a river boat) each night was a convenient way to avoid a change in lodging. Biking is a way of life for many Belgians and Dutch, and we were part of it during our journey.
Presenter: Scott Lauffer.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Evolution of life on Earth over more than 3 billion years has given rise to over 15 million species of organisms with a stunning and beautiful diversity of adaptations. Dr. Shephard will outline what we measure and know about this diversity of life. He will then give a view of threats to this diversity and how we can help save as much of it as we can.
Presenter: Julian Shephard.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
An Ithaca-area and Binghamton alum (Ph.D. Sociology 1980), Dr. Laurentz brings his Sociology, Clinical Psychology, and broadly-defined Spiritual orientation to his approach in helping seniors. He has been displaying a brief article via PowerPoint for discussion, which can take off in various directions because the needs of each class are different. You may feel free to participate or not. Prior classes have led to interesting discussions on a wide range of aging issues.
Presenter: Robert Laurentz, PsyD, PhD.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Zoom
Notes: Zoom only
General George Washington was on the verge of his army going home on December 31, 1776, as their enlistments were up and he had no option to hold them in camp. Instead, he devises the bold plan to cross the Delaware River on Christmas Eve and attack the Hessian units wintering in the town of Trenton on the New Jersey side of the river. Join George Cummings as we explore this turning point in the 250th celebration of the War for Independence.
Presenter: George Cummings.
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location:
Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jon Meacham, writes, “Religion is one of the most pervasive but least understood forces in American life.” This session examines what was advocated by Founding Father Thomas Jefferson regarding religion. The history of religion will be discussed, including various myths, centering on Thomas Jefferson’s challenge of notions about religion as he envisioned a separation of church and state for America.
Presenter: Douglas Cornwell
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
This class is for those who have some prior music-reading experience who would like to introduce and/or renew the pleasure of music-making into their lives. Barbara will present the basic technique of this lovely instrument, which has a very rapid initial learning curve using Renaissance and folk repertoire. Questions about instruments or class? Please contact Barbara at bpsimplegifts@earthlink.net for recommendations. This class will be in-person only and will not be recorded.
Presenter: Barbara Kaufman
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Lyceum classroom: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY
Spend a few minutes with Sue and Lonna in the Emerald Island. With a little bit of luck, you will be treated to scenes and stories of Dublin, Blarney Castle, kissing the Blarney Stone, a tour of the Ring of Kerry. That would include the Kerry Bog Village, Killarney, and Killorglin with a sheep herding demonstration and then be topped off with Sneem, Cliffs of Moher, Burren Cliffs, Limerick, Galway, Game of Thrones sites, and the Giant’s Causeway.
Presenter: Sue Elmore, Lonna Pierce
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
For many years Douglas Weeks has developed and presented a wide variety of living history or theatrical interpretations to groups. In this series he will share the process he uses to create and present a program that can grab the attention of your audience while bringing the past to life one character at a time. Participants are encouraged to develop their own unique characterization during the sessions.
Presenter: Douglas Weeks
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Cartoons date back to antiquity, but comic strips in the U.S. began in the late 19th century as a form of entertainment to sell newspapers. Colorful, 10-cent comic books arrived on the scene in the early-1930s and were a cheap medium for children’s reading. A history of these two forms of entertainment are presented here.
Presenter: Michael Little, retired professor of anthropology
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Classics such as "Cinderella," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Beauty and the Beast" were preserved throughout the 16th through the 19th centuries by authors such as the Grimm brothers, and Madame Leprince de Beaumont. Many of these early versions deviate significantly from the modern versions kids typically encounter. Taking a closer look at these early iterations can give us a glimpse into the past and provide some insight into the morals these tales might still inadvertently endorse today.
Presenter: Meisha Lohmann, PhD
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
We’ll read and discuss A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor, written in 1955. It shows a time and place in the American South where race, religion, morality, violence, and grace are revealed by a master story-teller. These remarkable stories are powerful and will stick with you long after you have closed the book. Please read the first five stories for the first class.
Presenter: Karen Crisafulli, Lyceum member and retired teacher
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Non-scientists welcome! Bring your curiosity and set politics aside for a couple hours. In this class we have short presentations and videos on a wide variety of science and technology topics. Questions, comments, and discussion are encouraged. Each class covers different subjects, depending on the interests of the discussion leader and class members. Recent topics have included: a Mars helicopter, moth delights, human longevity, AI in medicine (and other aspects), electric vehicles (argument against!), earthquake monitoring and prediction, clinical oncology R&D and 3D live echocardiography, high school robotics, space solar power, cyber-security and the Dark Web, deepfakes, The Light Eaters (book about plant behavior), reopening Three Mile Island, AI for Music, Nobel prizes, and much more. Many of these were presented by class members or outside guests. Join us on Zoom, or better yet, in-person - we typically have 15 or more people at WSKG these days.
Presenter: Art Law, Alan Jones, Peter Stiles
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
This class will read and discuss selected poems from Carl Sandburg’s Chicago, Cornhuskers, Smoke and Steel, and The People, Yes. Folk songs in Sandburg’s book The American Songbag will be played and sung. Garrison Keillor calls the book a history of song in America. A bit of biographical information about Carl Sandburg will also be presented. Due to the nature of the class, this will be in person only.
Presenter: Charlene Thomson, retired teacher, musician, and folksinger
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Lyceum classroom: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY
Get up close and personal with a unique exhibit of masterpieces by famous Spanish artists. We'll examine their contributions to movements like Cubism and Surrealism as well as touching on the evolution of Spanish art from the Renaissance to Modernism. We'll explore their styles, the historical and cultural contexts of their work, and their influence on the global art world. And we'll view John’s 2022 and 2025 photos of architect/designer Antoni Gaudi's imaginative, nature-inspired architectural structures such as the stunning basilica Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló in Barcelona.
Presenter: John Battisti
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
This past September, John Chaffee took a two-week Road Scholar tour of South Korea, which covered much of the country including the offshore island of Jeju. In addition to depicting the many beautiful places that we visit, this class will focus on the many ways in which the country’s long history is embedded in contemporary society, through temples, palaces, governmental structures (the DMZ), and wonderful museums.
Presenter: John Chaffee, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Memories can take the form of stories, and stories centered around nostalgia can become memoir. In this class the students and instructor will share prompts, start journals, learn how to make our prose engaging, and practice grouping stories into themes, life passages, and moments from childhood. Why not start now? We can write some of our stories and work on our memoirs together.
Presenter: Nicoletta LaMarca-Sacco, Certified Life Coach, former Co-Director, Binghamton Writers Project
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
NATO was established as a defensive alliance to prevent the USSR from overrunning all of Europe. For more than 40 years Western European countries, with rare exceptions, have allowed their conventional forces to decline to near impotence. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, is that purpose still important? If so, what responsibilities should each nation bear? Is the participation of the United States still necessary? These and other questions will be raised in this session, all for the audience to answer.
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
The U.S. Supreme Court is the nation’s highest court, exercising awesome powers to (re)shape the legal, economic, political, and social life of the United States. Idealized as being above the political fray, it is (and always has been) a political institution. This two-session course will be divided into two parts. The first part will consider the mechanics of the Court, including how it is staffed, how the Court picks and chooses its cases, and how it makes its decisions. The second part will consider a selection of landmark decisions of the Court as well as more recent high-profile rulings, including those having to do with the exercise of presidential power, the scope of the Second Amendment, control of immigration, and the operation of election law.
Presenter: Dr. Wendy Martinek, Department of Political Science, Binghamton University
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Take a deep dive into trust and estate planning. Discuss strategies, struggles, the importance of a comprehensive estate plan, and common pitfalls to avoid. We will also explore advantages that can be exploited in an "estate planning wrapper," specifically with irrevocable trusts.
Presenter: Jason Shedd, CTFA, Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer at NBT
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Follow along on a train adventure to the delightful images of the UK! A picture record of what to look for when tripping through lovely towns, great houses, and wonderful churches, along with an occasional castle!!
Presenter: George Cummings
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Do we have Free Will? The intuition that we have free will is very strong, but so are the arguments that we don’t have free will. This class will cover the relationship between determinism and free will. We will discuss compatibilism, the view that free will is compatible with determinism, and incompatibilism, the view that determinism is incompatible with free will. We will also discuss arguments that claim that compatibility doesn’t give us the kind of free will that is worth having. This will get to the heart of the matter: What is free will? Even if we are free to act based on our own reasons alone, is that enough to give us free will? Is that enough to give us moral responsibility?
Presenter: Dr. Naomi Dershowitz, PhD in philosophy
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Theater enthusiast and Binghamton University alumnus Brian Stoll will discuss all things Broadway beginning with the history and importance of the Broadway Playbill. He will also touch upon some of the reasons why audience members choose to collect these memorable theatre keepsakes. Lastly, Brian will share a variety of money-saving tips on how to see Broadway shows for under $60.00 a ticket!
Presenter: Brian Stoll
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Woody Holton’s Abigail Adams: a Life won a Bancroft Prize for studies in American history when it came out in 2010. Using original sources, some of them new to us, he portrays a woman who was far more charismatic and influential than we realized. He considers her to be one of the finest writers of her age and describes how she more than holds her own among towering intellects such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and her own husband, John Adams. In an era when women were often not allowed to own property, she was able to amass a fortune. She worked for equal rights for women in many spheres. Let us get to know more about this remarkable woman.
Presenter: Eileen Patch, historian; Cheryl Richter, member
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
The menu consists of Chicken Piccata, Pasta Primavera in Pesto Sauce, Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes and Asparagus, and Lemon Posset. Sangria and coffee are included. First sharing how his passion evolved, Lyceum member and avid art collector John Battisti will guide us from medieval through contemporary art with stunning works - Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Dali, Max and Wyland - from his personal collection. You may register a guest for this event.
Presenter:
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Old Union Hall, Binghamton University Campus
Travel to the Philippines, a country composed of 7,641 islands, with Jeanne and learn about different tribes, American surgical missions there, unique customs, and jungle survival techniques. This class will not be recorded.
Presenter: Jeanne Van Buren
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Explore the writer’s life and writing as described in May Davison Rhodes’ The Hired Man on Horseback, the story of two people who shared a life of no regret. Gene told May, his partner and collaborator, “If I hadn’t met you, I should probably never have written any stories. I was about to engage in a life of outlawry…It looked very attractive, he mused” in the storied time of cattle drives, Geronimo’s warriors, outlaw Billy the Kid, and Sheriff Pat Garrett (who had it in for Gene) in the New Mexico badlands.
Presenter: Peter Gordon, Historian, Town of Owego
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
An Ithaca-area and Binghamton alum (Ph.D. Sociology 1980), Dr. Laurentz brings his Sociology, Clinical Psychology, and broadly-defined Spiritual orientation to his approach in helping seniors. He has been placing a brief article into PowerPoint for discussion that can take off into any direction since the needs of each class are different. You may feel free to participate or not. Prior classes have led to interesting discussions on a wide range of aging issues.
Presenter: Robert Laurentz, PsyD, PhD
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
While working with selected scenes and monologues from the best dramatic literature of stage and film, you will learn and practice techniques that actors use. Everyone is welcome; no experience needed. Given the interactive nature of the class, this will be in-person only and not recorded.
Presenter: Katherine Bacon, Assoc. Professor of Theater at SUNY Broome
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Lyceum classroom: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY
This class will be a discussion of the current events or “hot” topics of the day. We hope you find this class enlightening and invigorating.
Presenter: Benzil Kaspar, emeritus professor of social sciences, SUNY Broome
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Say good-bye to back, neck and shoulder pain and hello to a more comfortable and relaxed body with gentle yoga poses that you can do sitting in a chair. You will learn and practice a variety of simple exercises that not only engage every part of the body from head to toe but also target specific muscle groups. You will also learn several relaxing breathing practices as well as several short routines to practice at home on your own. A few simple chair yoga moves a day can energize the body and relax the mind—resulting in better quality of life, better sleep, and a deeper sense of inner peace.
Presenter: Karen Catalano, M.Ed., certified yoga and meditation instructor
This class meets 2 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
In the wake of the federal government’s termination of the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, what happens to the communities left behind? This session explores the human and institutional fallout of ending Refugee Resettlement and the evolving work of support, adaptation, and solidarity. It offers insight into local realities and the ongoing fight for dignity without federal infrastructure.
Presenter: Steve Ordonez, Community, Immigrant, & Refugee Services Program Manager, American Civic Association
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
It’s finally happened! The components for solar electric systems have become so “plug & play” that you can “Do It Yourself” (DIY). Come to this class to find out what all is involved in doing your own solar energy system. Even with NO subsidies, this kind of system will cut your electric costs in HALF. Get Solar Empowered now!
Presenter: Dr. Gay Canough, Retired Solar Business Owner
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
In the summer of 2024, the Lamoureux family journeyed to Brazil with a goal: to encounter the “Big Four” of the Pantanal–Jaguar, Giant River Otter, Giant Anteater, and Tapir. Did they succeed? Along the way, they witnessed over 200 species of birds, vast numbers of caimans, and many charismatic Capybaras! Join them on this unforgettable adventure through Brazil’s Pantanal in this multimedia presentation.
Presenter: Vic Lamoreaux, President, Broome County Naturalists’ Club
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Early modern Europe witnessed some of the most violent and consequential episodes of revolt and revolution in history between 1500 and 1830. The course examines three types of violent disturbances: peasant/urban revolts, noble uprisings, and revolutions. The course will cover the German Peasants’ War, the French Wars of Religion, the Dutch Revolt, the English Civil War(s), the Fronde, the French Revolution, the Spanish Revolution of 1820, and the French July Revolution of 1830.
Presenter: James Lavelle
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
A tour of the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences at 48 Corliss Avenue in Johnson City, a part of Binghamton University’s growing Health Sciences campus. See how today’s students learn to become Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners. See the amazing way a vacant, decaying EJ factory was renovated and repurposed! Included in the tour will be specialized classrooms, labs, and demonstrations. See extraordinarily life-like manikins, and observe a simulation using one of their high-fidelity manikins. Last year’s tour was so enjoyable and educational that we’re offering it again in 2026. Easy parking is available on Corliss Avenue alongside the Health Sciences building.
Presenter: Patti Reuther, Asst. Dean, and Phil Wood, Senior Staff Assistant, Innovative Simulation and Practice Center at BU’s College of Nursing
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Decker College of Nursing, 48 Corliss Avenue, Johnson City, NY
We will explore the history of Western fashion, examining its evolution from ancient times to the modern era. Each lesson focuses on key time periods, advances in clothing manufacture, and the relationship between society and fashion. Session 1: Ancient Fashion Session 2: Fashion From the Middle Ages Through the Renaissance Session 3: Fashion of the 17th Through 19th Centuries Session 4: Modern Fashion: The 20th Century to Present Day
Presenter: Brenda Sabol
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
This course is centered on storytelling to share what we know and can learn from the Susquehanna River. Together we will explore the river’s importance and possible future. Geologically over 350 million years old, the river has been radically altered by a mere five centuries of agriculture, mining, industrialization, and urban growth. A beloved resource we cannot afford to neglect, the river’s journey from Cooperstown to the Chesapeake Bay has inspired great art and literature, as well as concern. Factual accounts and stories will lead to considerations of how the Susquehanna’s future dovetails with our own.
Presenter: Wendy Skinner, Lyceum Grant Recipient
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Troubles (1970) by J. G. Farrell is about the declining years of an extraordinary hotel, The Majestic, on the Southern coast of Ireland during the Irish War of Independence. It is the first novel in Farrell’s Empire Trilogy, a loosely connected series on the decline of Britain’s status as a colonial power, and received the so-called Lost Booker Prize in 2010. This sprawling mix of the gothic, big house fiction, bathos, and black humor follows the fortunes and misfortunes of Major Brendan Archer, a veteran of the Great War, who comes to Ireland in search of the daughter of the hotel’s owner, Angela Spencer, the young woman he may or may not have proposed marriage to while on leave. In his introduction to Troubles, John Banville concludes: If Farrell's novel “is the expression of the end of a world, it is one of the most finely modulated and magically comic whimpers the reader is likely to catch.” Please read J.G. Farrell, Troubles, with an introduction by John Banville, (New York, New York Review of Books, 2002). Class is capped at 18.
Presenter: Michael J. Conlon, Emeritus Assoc. Professor of English, Binghamton University
Class is limited to 18
This class meets 5 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Demons, fools, and madmen course throughout Russian culture, from folklore to film. We’ll read short works that trace these three figures against a background of folkloric, theological, psychological, social, and political considerations. Along the way, we may be prompted to raise some fundamental questions concerning “madness” and culture. For instance, is there a discernible boundary between insanity and imagination? Is madness a destructive delusion or a frightening reflection of the passions, ambitions and malaise of “normal” society? Finally, who is insane: the incarcerated or those who would lock them up? Readings for this course will all be provided in PDF form in advance of the course. April 7: folktales; Nikolai Gogol, “The Night Before Christmas” and “Viy” April 14: folktales; Lev Tolstoy, “Alyosha the Pot”, “God’s Fool”, and “Grisha” April 21: Nikolai Gogol, “Diary of a Madman”; Anton Chekhov, “Ward No. 6”; and Viktor Pelevin, “Sleep”
Presenter: Nancy Tittler, Senior Instructor of Russian (Emerita), Binghamton University
This class meets 3 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
The birchbark canoe, an ingenious vessel of indigenous design, of great importance in indigenous societies before colonization. This class will look first at its indigenous history and then its uptake by settlers starting in the 17th century, the eventual slow eclipse of its use, and its interesting afterlives.
Presenter: John Kuhn, Associate Professor of English, Binghamton University
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
With the CRISPR gene editing technology, we now have the power to edit & modify genes in human DNA and control human evolution. Is this the start of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”? Only a few years ago, in China, human reproductive genes were edited using CRISPR. This created the birth of twins that were immune to HIV/AIDS–including all future offspring. Although this opens the door to changing human evolution, it violates international medical ethics. This talk will relate to the work of Jennifer Doudna from her book The Code Breakers. It will explore the ethical implications of modifying the evolution of the human race.
Presenter: Nicholas Guydosh, Program Consultant Kopernik Observatory & Science Center
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Follow the journey of a gender outlaw, Prof. Lobdell’s ancestor, who was celebrated for his skills and charm until his “true sex” was revealed. After a lunacy hearing in 1879, he was committed to insane asylums until his death in 1912 at the Binghamton Insane Asylum. In early psychiatric writings, he is referenced as a rare case and the first person labeled as lesbian. We’ll discuss 19th-century societal rules and laws about public and domestic spheres, and early psychological understandings of gender, sexuality, and mental health.
Presenter: Bambi Lobdell, Ph.D in English from BU, and Adjunct Professor at SUNY Oneonta
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Bob and Sue Edwards have been frequent visitors to the national parks and monuments of the west. Join them on a virtual trip to the crown jewel of our national parks, Yellowstone, and the beauty of Grand Teton’s majestic peaks. See Yellowstone’s geothermal areas, which contain about half the world’s active geysers, as well as the geologic wonders and abundant wildlife of both parks.
Presenter: Bob Edwards
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
This session will dive into the critically important values expressed in the Declaration of Independence, establishing the unique nature of the philosophy on which our country is founded.
Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Scott Lauffer will facilitate representatives from eight local outdoor organizations - Susquehanna Group Sierra Club, Triple Cities Ski Club, Triple Cities Hiking Club, Naturalist Club of Broome County, Waterman Conservation Education Center, Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), Ahwaga Canoe & Kayak Club, and Southern Tier Bicycle Club–who will present overviews of their organizations and their activities. They will describe the purpose of their organization and the benefits provided by participation. They are all very active and will show you how they provide interesting programs enriching to the community.
Presenter: Scott Lauffer
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
“Trumbo; Red, White and Blacklisted” tells the powerful story of Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) about his political beliefs and alleged Communist affiliations. The play draws directly from Trumbo’s personal letters, revealing his wit, defiance, and resilience as he navigates the consequences of being blacklisted: losing his job, working under pseudonyms, and watching his friends suffer similar fates. Despite this, Trumbo continued to write and even won two Academy Awards under assumed names. The play, Trumbo’s letters, will be read by two well-known Southern Tier actors: John Montgomery and Chris Nickerson, who will portray Dalton Trumbo.
Presenter: John Montgomery and Chris Nickerson
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
From ancient walled cities and turquoise lakes to alpine landscapes, we’ll discover the best of Croatia and Slovenia. In Croatia, we'll marvel at the sun-drenched islands of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” and Diocletian’s Palace in Split. We’ll take a boat ride to the picturesque and historic island of Korčula, associated with Marco Polo, and we’ll hike in the Plitvice Lakes National Park featuring over 90 waterfalls that connect the park's stunning cascades and 16 crystal-clear lakes. In Slovenia we'll visit the capital city of Ljubljana, glide across Lake Bled’s emerald waters on a wooden boat to a fairytale island with a church, visit a medieval clifftop castle, and experience a one-of-a-kind ride on Postojna Cave's underground train.
Presenter: John Battisti
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
A survey of perspectives among people in Taiwan and in China on the critical geopolitical situation in that region following the actions of the current Trump administration. This situation will be placed in the context of US-China relations in the past two decades or so. Due to the political sensitivity of the talk, this class will not be recorded.
Presenter: Professor Fa-ti Fan, Binghamton University
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
The Baltic Countries have a long tradition of choral singing. Situated in north-eastern Europe, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia both politically and artistically occupy a central position between Eastern and Central Europe. Despite many historical, cultural and geographical factors which they have in common, each country has its own musical history and its own artistic mentality. Characteristic of the music of the Baltic countries, mostly in minor keys, is its combination of high emotion, intuitive power of expression and rich sonority. Meditative tranquility and concentration distinguish the choral music of this region as much as its tendency towards melancholy and sadness. This concert will be held at the Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton, NY; it will not be recorded.
Presenter: The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton, NY
Dr. Dora Apel’s (a Binghamton University graduate) book explores images of ruins, ranging from photos, advertisements, and television shows to documentaries, video games, and zombie and disaster films. Join us in a discussion about how Detroit has become emblematic of failing cities everywhere. How and why do these “ruin porn” images say less about a specific city than about the forces of globalism, government abandonment, and corporate disinvestment? Bring a question about a specific issue or passage from the book for the class to discuss. Dr. Apel, Professor Emerita, will be present via Zoom to participate for a significant portion of our class.
Presenter: Chris Turner, retired nurse
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Exploring the long-lasting wisdom of Confucianism and its practical application for a harmonious modern life, this talk delves into the two cardinal virtues central to the teachings of Confucius and how they can inform us in our daily lives: Benevolence (ren 仁), which embodies the spirit of the Golden Rule, and Balance (zhongyong 中庸), often translated as the Golden Mean.
Presenter: Professor Zu-yan Chen, Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, Binghamton University
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Alice Paul (1885-1977) championed the Right to Vote Amendment by seeing that it passed in Congress and by the required 3/4 of the States. While President of the National Woman’s Party, she also wrote the Equal Rights Amendment, presenting it in Seneca Falls in 1923 on the 75th Anniversary of the First Women’s Rights Convention there and re-introduced it to each session of Congress until her death in 1977. Paul led the first picketing in America on the public sidewalks outside of the White House, paying for this “crime” by being sent to the infamous rat infested Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton, VA, rather than in a more hospitable Washington, DC jail. She will be brought to life by Dr. Pamela L. Poulin, a First Person Interpreter, who will also entertain and educate her audience with some songs of the time.
Presenter: Pamela L. Poulin (PhD), Professor Emerita of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Loneliness has a medical risk comparable to that of smoking. This seminar will explore the interaction of loneliness, social support, and isolation, their mental and medical health impacts, and risk factors, including social anxiety. Given the high need, we will cover approaches that require fewer clinical resources including casual contacts and AI chatbots. We will also explore promising approaches to address this major public health issue at individual, social, community and societal levels.
Presenter: Dr
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Online using ZOOM
Location: Online
Join us as we land in beautiful and very historic Lisbon, Portugal, touring for a few days before being transported to board a ship to sail up the glittering Douro River through renowned Port wine country and witnessing stunning vistas until we reach the Spanish border. From there, we’ll wrap things up with a few days in magnificent Madrid.
Presenter: George Lohmann
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
The ancient Maya of Central America achieved a sophisticated understanding of the motions of the heavenly bodies over a thousand years before the arrival of Columbus. Allen Lutins, a former professional archaeologist, will describe the breadth of their knowledge and the exciting history of how we discovered their accomplishments.
Presenter: Allen Lutins
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
April doesn’t just bring showers; it brings beautiful flowers that you can miss if you wait until May–and you have to know where to look! Join us at Middendorf Park, 220 Juneberry Road, in Vestal, NY, for the first of our Ephemeral Friday walks. It’s the perfect time to see the earliest of the spring ephemerals (plants that bloom and wither very quickly before the deciduous trees leaf out), as well as new fern activity you might otherwise miss.
Presenter: Julie Mundt and Jeff Smith
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Middendorf Park, 220 Juneberry Road, Vestal, NY
This class will be an introductory class outlining the art histories of India, China, Japan, and South Korea, spanning from ancient to the modern and contemporary periods. We explore key characteristics and representative artworks of each period including such as the Indus Civilization in India, the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, the Edo period in Japan, and the modern era in South Korea.
Presenter: Heesol Hwang, Lyceum Grant Recipient
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
People who listen to and play music may have a lower risk of cognitive decline. This class will explore learning, playing, and recording music using 21st century tools. The presenters will share things learned over the years with the goal of making music more accessible to those who feel barriers are in their way. You may be inspired to learn to play a new instrument, re-engage with an instrument you once enjoyed playing, or simply listen to music more often. The digital audio workstation, music notation software, YouTube, and other tools will be discussed and demonstrated.
Presenter: Steve McCormack and Andrea DelNero
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Join us for a May Day walk through the trails at Sycamore Bridge, behind the Bement-Billings Farmstead, 9241 State Route 38, Newark Valley, NY. The bluebells will be in full bloom, along with many other ephemerals (plants that bloom early in the season). We will also look for signs of other plants that will bloom later in the season, as well as checking out the trees. Carpooling will be arranged for those who wish it.
Presenter: Jeff Smith and George Lohmann
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: 9241 State Route 38, Newark Valley, NY
By the first week in May, ferns are off to the races and changing fast! This walk along the Creek Trail at Jones Park, 97 State Line Road, Vestal, NY, will give you the chance to see a number of fern species in their early stages as well as other spring ephemerals (catch-’em-while-you-can plants). Some basic background on ferns and our local species will be included so you can keep an eye out for fern action at one of the best local parks for these ancient plants.
Presenter: Julie Mundt and Jeff Smith
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Jones Park, 97 State Line Road, Vestal, NY
Come visit the home of local antiques enthusiast George Cummings to see a collection of 17th, 18th, and 19th century original antiques displayed in a room-by-room living atmosphere. Featuring early Colonial through Federal style antiques with both American and European examples with many explanations as to period use. Limit: 16 people in two shifts of 8 each: 1:00-2:00 and 2:00-3:00. You will be notified a few days before the class which shift you are in.
Presenter: George Cummings
Class is limited to 16
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Offsite
Join us for a mid-May walk through the Mundy Wildflower Garden at Cornell University, 320 Caldwell Road, Ithaca, NY. We will discover a large array of ephemerals (plants that bloom early in the season) in full bloom, but we will also look for signs of other plants that will bloom later in the season, as well as checking out the trees. Carpooling will be arranged for those who wish it.
Presenter: Jeff Smith and George Lohmann
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Mundy Wildflower Garden at Cornell University, 320 Caldwell Road, Ithaca, NY
Windows into Iran invites participants to discover a country too often viewed only through a political lens. Beyond headlines, this course offers a cultural journey through Iran’s poetry, music, and cinema –from Rumi’s timeless verses to the power of contemporary film–celebrating creativity, resilience, and the shared humanity that connects us across borders.
Presenter: Azadeh Eriss, Lyceum Grant Recipient
This class meets 4 times:
Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)
Location: Online
Enjoy a beautiful early summer day strolling in the garden–many beautiful gardens, in fact! Join our self-guided garden tour in the Triple Cities area. Participants may visit all or some of the gardens in any order they choose, using the e-tickets provided by the Lyceum office. The garden tour will occur June 27 rain or shine.
Presenter: Local Gardeners
This class meets 1 time:
Delivery: In Person
Location: Lyceum Garden Tour