Lyceum Course Catalog

Explore questions related to (1) the unique nature and interconnected history of science and religion as clashing and/or complementary ways of perceiving "reality"; (2) the purported conflict and potential overlap of Judeo-Christian and scientific perspectives on the evolution of both the selfish and self-sacrificing aspects of human nature; and (3) an historical overview of our scientific and spiritual understanding of stewardship of Spaceship Earth with respect to global climate change. All three sessions will feature engaging visuals, quotes, interactive "mini-experiments," and "take-home-and-test" ideas for enhanced living.

Presenter: Tom O'Brien, retired professor of Science Education and Educational Leadership at Binghamton University

This class meets 3 times:

1. Monday, Sep 14—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Monday, Sep 21—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3. Monday, Sep 28—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Working memory operates on relatively short time spans, from 30 seconds to a few minutes, and allows us to actively maintain information about the world around us. In this course, we'll discuss how this form of short-term memory differs from long-term, what transforms it into "working" memory, how it is uniquely impacted by aging, and what we can do to potentially improve or support our working memory abilities.

Presenter: Michael Dulas, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology, BU

This class meets 4 times:

1. Tuesday, Sep 15—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Tuesday, Sep 22—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Tuesday, Sep 29—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
4. Tuesday, Oct 6—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Sovereign Citizens are a far-right anti-government group who believe that the government, courts, and law enforcement are illegitimate. This class will review their history and evolution from the white supremacist "Posse Comitatus" movement created in reaction to the 1960's civil rights movement to modern day, where they wreak havoc on our court system and endanger law enforcement. This class will also explore how the ideas of this movement have spread to those with power who seek to break the rule of law.

Presenter: Josh Shapiro, Special Counsel for area Town and Village Courts; former Assistant District Attorney

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Sep 15—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

In the hands of a master, the personal essay can be a fascinating read. E. B. White is just such a master. In his early forties, he revisits his favorite childhood vacation spot with his ten-year-old son and finds himself in a spiritual place between his father and his son, between youth and mortality, between nature and technology. Explore with us this fascinating essay and discover a side of this writer that you may have missed.

Presenter: George Lohmann

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Sep 15—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

Focused on visiting archaeology sites, Laura shares experiences in Eastern Türkiye in the fall of 2025. She traveled solo 1500 miles, visiting many ancient places not on the usual itinerary of Türkiye. Experience with her the oldest megalithic work of architecture ever found, the stunning 12,000 year old Taş Tepeler sites of Göbeklitepe and Karahan Tepe. She visited the city of Şanlıurfa, the tomb atop of Mt. Nemrut, the Roman Severan bridge, the beehive houses of Harran, the Bazda cave, a cruise on the River Euphrates, the capital city of Ankara; Konya, the heart of Sufism, and the other-worldly rock landscapes of Cappadocia, Çatalhöyük, the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, and the landscape of Love Valley and the ancient Hittite capital of Hattuşa. Like you expect from Laura's travels, this is not a tour you will likely get anywhere else.

Presenter: Laura Intscher, Architect and Adventure Traveler

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 16—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Spend an afternoon with other Lyceum members making a piece of art. This session will be a step-by-step watercolor class, start to finish. Everyone from the beginner to the long-term painter learns something new. We will take home a painting, matted and ready to frame. The fee for this class will include $25 for the supplies, which covers handouts and the mat to frame your work. This is an in-person class which will take place in the new studios of our co-sponsor The Fine Arts Society of the Southern Tier, 51-53 McKinley Ave, Endicott.

Presenter: Kathleen Smith, Artist

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 16—1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: The Fine Arts Society of the Southern Tier, 51-53 McKinley Ave, Endicott

The course will provide some real-life examples to highlight the demands of navigating life events, and how memory is necessary to organize the different places, times, experiences, and individuals we encounter. The class also will discuss some research results on the necessary brain areas for memory and the organization of our complex lives, and how aging may impact the function of those brain areas. The lecture also will discuss strategies used in experiments that have helped older adults with memory organization and remembering, suggesting there are ways we better organize everyday information.

Presenter: Ioannis Valoumas, Psychology Graduate Student, Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Sep 17—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Beavers: some see them as fascinating nocturnal neighbors, while others see them as persistent pests of aquatic engineering. Once nearly hunted to extinction for their fur, these now-numerous semi-aquatic rodents are expert ecosystem engineers, enhancing their environment for both themselves and other species. Take a walk around Brick Pond with Waterman Center naturalist Michelle Knuepfer, learning about the biology of beavers themselves and the ecology of how they modify and maintain the wetlands they live in. Explore the ways in which beavers shape the ecosystem of Brick Pond, and get a closer look at the rodents themselves through preserved specimens. Class will meet at Brick Pond, 546 East Front Street, Owego, NY.

Presenter: Michelle Knuepfer, Naturalist, Waterman Conservation Education Center

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Sep 17—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: Brick Pond, 546 East Front Street, Owego, NY

Whether you are new to Chair Yoga or attended the Spring Chair Yoga class, this class is for you. A few gentle yoga moves that you can do in a chair can energize the body and relax the mind--resulting in better quality of life, better sleep, and a deeper sense of inner peace. Say good-bye to back, neck, and shoulder pain, and hello to a more comfortable and relaxed body. We will review a variety of simple exercises that not only engage every part of the body from head to toe but also target specific muscle groups. The class will include several relaxing breathing practices as well as several short routines to practice at home on your own. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend in person for individualized attention.

Presenter: Karen Catalano, M.Ed., certified instructor of yoga, stress management, and meditation

This class meets 2 times:

1. Thursday, Sep 17—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Thursday, Sep 24—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

What causes Bill Bitner to think about Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and Schrödinger's Cat while hiking in the forests of Upstate New York? Sign up for this course and you'll find out. For more than three decades, Bill Bitner was a software engineer helping clients around the world to better use technology. Now, Bill wears muddy boots and wanders in the woods. He created Wander & Ponder with Bill & Friends to encourage us to explore, think, be kind, and have fun. His hope is that by sharing some of the lessons learned in his journey, he'll encourage you and bring a smile to your face. Projects shared in this session will include trail cameras, volunteering for trail maintenance, journaling, and more. No prior knowledge of Heisenberg, Schrödinger, or cats is required.

Presenter: Bill Bitner, hiker, photographer, drone pilot, and creator of Wander & Ponder

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Sep 17—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

Binghamton University. Kyivan Rus'? Ukraine? The Ukraine? Little Russia? Russia? Where are these places, and who lives there? What constitutes a national literature, and what language/s should it embrace? This course will probe the literary interactions between two great East Slavic cultures, from their common roots in medieval Kyiv to the fraught present. Close readings of literary texts in English translation, including medieval chronicles, folktales, Gogol, Shevchenko, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Babel, Kurkov, and others, will explore myths, attitudes, stereotypes, and universal themes that have shaped centuries of cultural relations between these two nations. An underlying goal of the course is to better understand, via cultural expression, the struggle for integrity of the Ukrainian nation. Pdfs and reading assignments will be distributed by email well ahead of the first session.

Presenter: Nancy Tittler, Senior Instructor, German and Russian Studies,

This class meets 4 times:

1. Friday, Sep 18—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Friday, Sep 25—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Friday, Oct 2—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
4. Friday, Oct 9—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

The vital question is: will we have free and fair elections in November?  The administration is attempting to ban mail-in ballots. There is legislation, Save America, that would require special ID for voter registration. The US Supreme Court is reviewing Birthright Citizenship. Should naturalized citizens have the right to vote?  Will there be investigations of voter "fraud and abuse" in Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia? Voter turnout and participation are the heart and soul of democracy.

Presenter: Ben Kasper, Professor Emeritus, SUNY Broome

This class meets 2 times:

1. Friday, Sep 18—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Friday, Nov 6—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Join board members from the Broome and Tioga Counties League of Women Voters to discuss the history of women's voting rights and how that fight continues today. We will focus on the women involved in securing that right, their strategies to achieve their goal and their sacrifices. We will conclude by examining the current effort to disenfranchise women and other individuals.

Presenter: Carla Michalak and Susan Ruff

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Sep 21—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

"AAA: Allies, Advocates, and Accomplices" is an interactive course designed to deepen understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences while building practical skills for meaningful support of any marginalized group. Participants will explore the differences between allyship, advocacy, and accompliceship as well as learn how to challenge bias, foster inclusive spaces, and take action in both personal and professional settings.

Presenter: Nick Martin, Associate Director of the LGBTQ Center

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Sep 22—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Australia is a vast, diverse, and strikingly beautiful country, offering endless opportunities to explore its landscapes and unique natural life. Join Linda for an armchair adventure through the central coast and central tableland regions of New South Wales, where family visits provide a window into daily life in a rural farming town. We'll wander through bushland trails, paddle along quiet waterways, explore ancient cave systems, and trek along dramatic coastal paths. And of course, no visit to Australia is complete without experiencing its iconic cities. We'll take in the highlights of Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.

Presenter: Linda Best, retired hospital administrator

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 23—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Dr. Crispus Rumex is an old-time herbalist and healer. Like those other "snake oil" salesmen he has his own patent medicine which he claims can cure most anything. However, most of his medicines come from nature.  It is amazing how many herbal remedies one can find in walks around your neighborhood. Join Dr. Rumex this afternoon to learn how to make use of some of these to cure aches and pains, stomach disorders and so much more.

Presenter: Douglas Weeks

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 23—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Katharine Krebs, retired international programs director, Binghamton University, and a representative from the Broome County Board of Elections. New York State election law balances protection of voter rights with safeguards for election integrity. In addition, our elections depend on engaged citizens both as voters and as volunteers in the electoral process. A panel of speakers who have been involved in election work, including a representative of the Broome County Board of Elections, will describe the behind-the-scenes work to run an election and key, often-debated, voter access and election integrity issues. We will report on any changes to election law and explain the ways community members may choose to be involved.

Presenter: Heather Struck, retired academic advisor, Binghamton and Cornell Universities,

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Sep 24—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Non-scientists welcome! Bring your curiosity and set politics aside. We offer short presentations and videos on science and technology topics. Questions and comments are encouraged. Each class covers different subjects, depending on the interests of the discussion leader and class members. Recent topics include eye evolution, immunizations, nuclear power, EKGs, AI, placebo/nocebo effects, space debris, consciousness, one atom as wave & particle, bat echolocation, and much more; often presented by class members or outside guests.

Presenter: Art Law, Alan Jones, Peter Stiles

This class meets 4 times:

1. Friday, Sep 25—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Friday, Oct 9—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3. Friday, Oct 30—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
4. Friday, Nov 13—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Join us for a gentle early fall walk at Brick Pond, an old bed of the Susquehanna River. Here the changing leaves, late-season wildflowers and ferns, and active wildlife offer a glimpse of the season's quiet transition. We'll walk on the natural (unpaved) short path around the pond. Class will meet at Brick Pond, 546 East Front Street, Owego, NY.

Presenter: Jeff Smith and Julie Mundt, naturalists

This class meets 1 time:

1. Saturday, Sep 26—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: Brick Pond, 546 East Front Street, Owego, NY

Join us while we explore the evolution of sculpture from its historical origins to present-day sculpture emphasizing the ideas, methods, mediums, materials, tools, and terminology associated with this socially significant art form. A display of original, artist-signed contemporary sculptures by Nicholas Yust, Rod Garrett, Carl Payne, Nano Lopez, Tim Yanke, and Robert Wyland will be displayed in the classroom. The sculptures include works crafted from acrylic/Lucite, bronze with hand-applied patina, aluminum, stainless steel, and stone. Join us while we experience together how these figures, shapes, colors and textures change in the light and see what story they tell us.

Presenter: John Battisti

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Sep 28—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

As a border state to British Canada after the American Revolution, New York State was always front line to potential hostilities. When in 1812, America decided to invade British Canada, we found ourselves a battleground for the next several years. Follow the stories of the engagements here in New York State from the Niagara River Frontier and Lake Erie to the Lake Champlain Valley, including a bevy of artifacts from that period.

Presenter: George Cummings

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Sep 29—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

It takes less than one hour to fly from Miami to Havana; yet since 1959, our countries have lived largely in separate worlds. In a cultural exchange tour, organized by Binghamton University's Alumni Association Travel program, our group explored Havana's architecturally rich colonial center, experienced the mysteries of Santeria, listened to traditional and contemporary Cuban music, visited the model socialist community and reforestation project, Las Terrazas, and, of course, rode in vintage old cars. Throughout our visit we met with local historians, a diplomat, educators, sociologists, art and music historians, a doctor, and environmental conservationists. During these conversations, we learned much about the implementation of the Cuban revolution and what people thought about their own government and the United States. We were there in October 2025, and evidence of the economic crisis was everywhere. At the end of this presentation, we will briefly discuss the current news from Cuba as of the date of this Lyceum session.

Presenter: Katharine Krebs, retired director of international programs Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 30—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Join us for this unique opportunity to hear a Ukrainian-born pianist's narration and masterful performance of one of history's most popular genres in music - THE WALTZ! Sit back and get lost in the grace, melodies, and romance of waltz music - some of the music will sound familiar and some will undoubtedly surprise you. This class will take place in the WSKG studio.

Presenter: Marina Gorelaya, pianist

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Sep 30—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

Aging is associated with changes in spatial cognition, affecting both navigation and memory for spatial information in everyday life. This lecture will provide an overview of how spatial abilities support daily functioning and examine the cognitive, motor, and neural systems that underlie spatial processing. We will explore how these systems change with age, highlighting differences between typical, healthy aging and patterns that may signal underlying pathology. Finally, we will discuss practical approaches and interventions that may help mitigate age-related declines in spatial cognition and support successful navigation across the lifespan.

Presenter: Taylor Brown, Psychology Graduate Student, Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Oct 1—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

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:

1. Thursday, Oct 1—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
2. Thursday, Oct 29—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

We will explore the high costs, advanced technology, and stagnant results. We will compare our system with other countries and discuss possible solutions.

Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian

This class meets 1 time:

1. Friday, Oct 2—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Acting is an art and a craft. In this class we will describe and discuss the techniques and skills actors use. Then you will get to practice using your own self. We'll work together with selected monologues and scenes from the writers of great plays and films. 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:

1. Monday, Oct 5—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author applies his vivid literary skills to the first volume of what is to be a three-volume history of the American revolution. If you enjoyed Ken Burns' series about the American Revolution last year, you might want to dig even deeper with a master historian and storyteller. The winner of the Excellence in American History Book Award, Mr. Atkinson presents the Revolution from both American and British perspectives in a comprehensive but eminently readable format. To facilitate a discussion having read or are reading the book would be beneficial. If you're just curious, however, sign up and we'll try to broaden your horizons.

Presenter: Alan Thompson

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Oct 5—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Participants will first work together to create a democratic decision-making process in a controlled (experimental) setting. Participants then will compare select features of United States government to the process they created, and finish by discussing the future of democracy in the United States. Effective participation requires careful reading of 15 pages of excerpts from On Democracy by Robert Dahl, which will be provided via an email link at least a week before the start of the in-person sessions. This class will not be recorded.  NOTE: Atypical scheduling.

Presenter: Thomas Pasquarello, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, SUNY Cortland

This class meets 3 times:

1. Tuesday, Oct 6—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Wednesday, Oct 7—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3. Thursday, Oct 8—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

Frailty is a status caused by multiple systems decline associated with compromised health. The good news is that frailty can be reversed with exercises. In this talk, Dr. Bair will recommend activities to strengthen your muscles, increase your standing/walking balance and increase your physical activities. Research evidence will be provided to show you that home exercise programs under supervision can revert you from frailty to a fit status.

Presenter: Woei-Nan Bair, PT, PhD, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Oct 6—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

In March 2024, Josias Bartram set sail from San Francisco to cross the Pacific Ocean in a 46-foot aluminum sailboat. His small crew--captained by his brother and including their 77-year-old father-- reached the island of Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia after 23 days at sea. Because the voyage was the culmination of a childhood dream, they named the boat Little My, after a character from Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson's beloved Moomin series, a childhood favorite. This talk explores the inspiration and preparation behind the crossing, the wildlife and adventures encountered along the way, and the philosophical underpinnings of his belief in adventure and calculated risk-taking as pathways to transcendent experiences and deep teamwork. He will also touch on Polynesian culture and the Polynesian migration--one of the great, often overlooked accomplishments of human prehistory.

Presenter: Josias Bartram, Director of the Broome County Public Library

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 7—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Have you ever had a deep personal reckoning with history? Come learn about how contemporary French film director Elise Otzenberger's award-nominated 2018 film My Polish Honeymoon (Lune de miel à Sgierz) blends lighthearted, comedic moments into serious topics that continue to intrigue us today. Using as its narrative and visual vehicle a young French Jewish couple's trip to modern-day Poland, the film foregrounds how seeking answers to questions about our heritage and our ancestors often leads to unexpected discoveries that complicate issues of memory, identity, and intergenerational bonds. The discussion will provide ample opportunities to explore our personal reactions to the film's themes, cinematic style, and emotional resonance. Participants are expected to view the film in advance of the class. It is available on Tubi (for free with commercials) or by rental on Amazon Prime. If, by any chance, the streaming services remove this film before our class, we will select an alternative film and send instructions to registered participants.

Presenter: Dora E. Polachek, retired Binghamton University Romance Languages faculty member

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Oct 8—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

We will discuss the working principles of Large Language Models and shed light on their training and inference costs. We will quantify usage costs using metrics such as energy and power consumption. Once quantified, we will discuss how these energy bottlenecks could serve as choke points for these AI models. Adversarial threats can exploit this attack vector to compromise the model's performance, using innovative attack algorithms that target the operational costs of similar generative AI models. Finally, we will briefly discuss potential solutions to protect against these emerging threats.

Presenter: Adnan Siraj Rakin, Assistant Professor, School of Computing, Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Oct 12—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Welcome to the wonderful world of fungi! Fall is an excellent time to hunt for mushrooms, the often colorful fruiting bodies of the fungi that have been growing underneath the forest for most of the year. From puffballs to oysters to the charismatic Chicken of the Woods, an impressive variety of mushrooms can be found in fall. Join Waterman Center naturalist Michelle Knuepfer on a hike along the trails at the Center to look for, and attempt to identify, fungi. We will explore the different types of fungi, their ecological roles, and their use by both humans and wildlife. Class will meet at the Waterman Conservation Center, 403 Hilton Road, Apalachin, NY.

Presenter: Michelle Knuepfer, Naturalist, Waterman Conservation Education Center

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Oct 13—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: Waterman Conservation Center, 403 Hilton Road, Apalachin, NY

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Tri-Cities Opera's production of Hansel and Gretel, in this session which combines music appreciation, historical context, and literary analysis. Hansel and Gretel (or Hänsel und Gretel in the original German) is an opera by nineteenth-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck, who described it as a Märchenoper (fairy-tale opera). The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' fairy tale of the same name. First performed in 1893, it is much admired for its folk inspired music. In 1931, Hansel and Gretel was the first complete Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast performance. Patrick Hansen, Artistic Director for Tri-Cities Opera and Stage Director for our production of Hansel and Gretel, will lecture on the music, themes, and history of the opera, and answer related questions. Although the class is hybrid, this session WILL NOT BE RECORDED.

Presenter: Patrick Hansen, Operatic Factotum, Tri-Cities Opera

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 14—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

This course will focus on the structure of the United States Government as it is delineated in the United States Constitution. It will include a brief look at the historical background leading up to the writing of the Constitution, an overview of all eight articles of the Constitution and a brief summary of the amendments to the Constitution. Comments and questions will be encouraged.

Presenter: Wayne Harvey

This class meets 4 times:

1. Thursday, Oct 15—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Thursday, Oct 22—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Thursday, Oct 29—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
4. Thursday, Nov 5—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

We have all had experiences of deep presence: a moment of awe in nature, a sense of wonder hearing a piece of music, the warmth of connection with a beloved animal or child. Meditating in a group provides support as we learn to use simple breath and awareness practices to connect with this inner presence in any given moment. Discover how readily accessible it is in our everyday lives, to transform reactive habits and allow for new possibilities. All are welcome: beginners, long-time practitioners, people of differing backgrounds and spiritual traditions. Attendance is required for our first session on October 19. If you have concerns working with the breath, please check with your healthcare professional to determine if this course is right for you. Only the teaching and guidance part of class will be recorded; confidentiality protected.

Presenter: Renee Daily, Authorized Presenter of the 3 Doors Meditation Practices

This class meets 3 times:

1. Monday, Oct 19—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Monday, Oct 26—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Monday, Nov 2—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

If the only major jazz release of 1959 was the Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue," we would likely still view it as a benchmark year in jazz history. This class will look at the Miles Davis classic as well as albums recorded or released in 1959 by Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Art Blakey and John Coltrane, while examining how each influenced the music that came afterwards.

Presenter: Dan Miller

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Oct 19—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Follow the path through those critical years after the end of the French and Indian Wars which saw a fundamental change in the attitudes of the Colonists toward their home government in London. They no longer had the same deference towards the government or the aristocracy as those still living there, seeing themselves as equal to anyone. Their lack of obedience led to a complete break and war.

Presenter: Michael Bogdasarian

This class meets 4 times:

1. Tuesday, Oct 20—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Tuesday, Oct 27—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Tuesday, Nov 3—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
4. Tuesday, Nov 10—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Naturalist Rick Bunting's program is a collection of brief photography essays on some of the wonders of Nature. Many aspects of the natural world will be presented including butterflies, moths, dragonflies and other insects, along with plant life, amphibians, mammals, and, of course, birds.

Presenter: Rick Bunting, Professor Emeritus from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and amateur naturalist

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Oct 20—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Heather and Kent will discuss their May 2026 Road Scholar trip to Romania, a country of stunning mountains and forests, medieval cities, and rich cultural heritage. Heather will share photos and remembrances from some of the same places visited by her grandparents during and after WWI. Romania emerged from two world wars and communist rule in the 20^th^ century to become a member of NATO (2004) and the European Union (2007), with a dynamic developing economy.

Presenter: Kent Struck, retired doctor, and Heather Struck, retired academic advisor (Binghamton and Cornell)

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 21—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Join fellow Lyceum members for a casual afternoon of socializing while listening to an eclectic array of piano favorites provided by Rhonda Moulton. Coffee, tea, and cold beverages will be available, along with light refreshments. An "icebreaker" is also planned to facilitate meeting new people. Due to the nature of this gathering, there will be no recording.

Presenter: Rhonda Moulton

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 21—3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

These presentations will trace concepts, representations, and understandings of women, their bodies, and their functions in society through the last 4,000 years. Lectures will focus on how factors changed as patriarchal power structures and social systems emerged so that original features of the Goddess become the cultural basis for understanding the Whore, the Healer, and the Witch.

Presenter: Bambi Lobdell, Ph.D. in English from BU, and Adjunct Professor at SUNY Oneonta

This class meets 4 times:

1. Thursday, Oct 22—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2. Thursday, Oct 29—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3. Thursday, Nov 5—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
4. Thursday, Nov 12—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

In this dramatic historical novel, Mantel creates a new version of King Henry VIII's divorce from his Catholic wife to marry Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth, in an action that changed England's culture and religion. Wolf Hall foregrounds Henry's advisor and fixer, Thomas Cromwell, who is brilliant by any standard, humane in his attention to small figures and also ruthless in his attraction to power. In Cromwell's maneuvering through years of historical crisis, acting to tip history in what looks like a positive direction, the novel explores the complex nature of motives and outcomes in Tudor England and raises enduring questions about leadership. Please read parts one and two for the first class.

Presenter: Susan Strehle, Professor Emerita

This class meets 4 times:

1. Friday, Oct 23—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2. Friday, Oct 30—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
3. Friday, Nov 6—10:00 am - 12:00 pm
4. Friday, Nov 13—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Medicare and Social Security can feel overwhelming, but understanding the basics is key to making confident decisions about your future. This class provides a clear, easy-to-follow overview of how Medicare works, what it covers, and when to enroll, along with essential Social Security concepts like eligibility, benefits, and timing. Whether you're nearing retirement or planning ahead, you'll gain practical knowledge to help you avoid common pitfalls and make informed choices.

Presenter: Ashley Hammond and Matt Kistner

This class meets 1 time:

1. Friday, Oct 23—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

New York's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was meant to address energy injustice and to reduce emissions. We have seen energy costs and gas use for electricity increase since 2019 while the reliability margin has been halved. Addressing these concerns, Governor Hochul has proposed development of five gigawatts of new nuclear capacity. We examine New York's plan in the context of Hochul's proposal, looking at land use and energy justice, as well as the cost, safety, material and land requirements, and reliability of energy resources.

Presenter: Dennis Higgins, professor of math and computer science, and Keith Schue, electrical engineer

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Oct 26—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

This course focuses on the ethical challenges in using AI as a tool to understand the natural world. Al, as we all know, has tremendous capabilities. How well does it understand wildlife? In Yellowstone, researchers are using AI-enhanced technology to identify individual wolves, track their movements, and observe behavior. What are they learning? What do they fail to learn? What place does AI have in wildlife research? What are the risks and dangers? We will discuss how to use AI responsibly in the study of the natural world, maintaining judgment, curiosity, and thoughtful attention.

Presenter: George Catalano, retired professor of Bio-Engineering at Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Oct 27—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Experience a captivating visual presentation featuring photos and videos that offers a virtual tour of the Highlights of Europe from the Arctic to the Aegean. The expedition commences above the Arctic Circle in Honningsvåg/North Cape, Norway, and follows a maritime course covering more than 3,000+ nautical miles to Greece. Along the way, the route will traverse oceans, seas, straits, and channels making port in Norway, Scotland, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Monaco, Morocco, Egypt, Corsica, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Turkey, and Greece. Embark on a virtual cruise journey to uncover iconic landmarks and immerse yourself in the rich cultures encountered along this remarkable route.

Presenter: John Battisti, Travel Enthusiast

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 28—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

What does it take to bring a lost art form back to life? Learn about the story of a long-term collaboration with the San Antonio Women's Cooperative in Belize--a community-driven project that weaves together archaeological research and living Maya heritage with the goal of preserving ancient ceramic traditions. By recovering forgotten techniques and rediscovering local materials, the partnership is turning ancestral knowledge into a sustainable future.

Presenter: Jeremiah Donovan, Professor Emeritus, Ceramics, SUNY Cortland

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 28—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Please join fellow Lyceum members in a traditional Ukrainian dinner, i.e., borscht, holubtsi, pyrohy, etc. Musical entertainment will be provided by two BU seniors, soprano Madisyn Rivera and mezzo-soprano Shania Adams from the BU Music Department. Come socialize, while enjoying great food and beautiful music. Location: Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, 230 Ukrainian Hill Road, Johnson City. The parking lot and dining hall are behind the church.

Presenter: Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Oct 28—5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, 230 Ukrainian Hill Road, Johnson City

Valley Harmony returns to Lyceum to lift their a cappella harmonies to offer a wide variety of sacred music, dating from 1770 to the present. There are popular hymns, classical, traditional African-American music, Shaker music, gospel and more. Join us for a delightful afternoon of harmonious music.

Presenter: Randy Kerr, George Lohmann, Mike Sheldon, and J. Ladd Yost

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Nov 2—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

In the early 1980s, a protester at the Vestal Plaza vandalized an F-15 that was being used for Air Force recruitment. Pipe Dream photographer Matt Mendelsohn was the only one to record the moment, and that photo led him to a forty-year career in photojournalism. From Pipe Dream to the Binghamton Press, from United Press International to USA Today, Mendelsohn has photographed presidents, wars and celebrities.

Presenter: Matthew Mendelsohn, photojournalist

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Nov 3—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Humankind has been fascinated with the Red Planet Mars. In this session Art will discuss the history of Mars exploration. From ancient civilizations speculations of Mars, to daring early spacecraft missions to sophisticated rovers scouring the surface, we'll explore how humanity has been unlocking the secrets of the Red Planet. Dive into the breakthroughs that have shaped our understanding of Mars and discover how these achievements are fueling the future Mars explorations.

Presenter: Arthur Law

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Nov 3—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

Join with us as we travel with friends at the furthest southern reach of Italy. It will be our first visit to Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria, exploring the cities along the shore of the Adriatic Sea, the Gulf of Taranto, and the Ionian Sea. Settlements flourished here during the height of Ancient Greece and have left their cultural and vinicultural imprint. Inspired cuisines await us, as well as architecture ranging from the stone Trulli homes to the most fantastic Baroque. Expect seascapes, wildflowers, steep narrow streets, and some of the finest Ancient Greek and Roman art in the world.

Presenter: Mark Epstein

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Nov 4—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

New York State witnessed some of the most pivotal battles of the American Revolution, including Saratoga, the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and, more locally, the Battle of Newtown. This course covers the history of the American Revolution in Upstate New York and how it laid the foundation for the new nation. We also will cover archaeological excavations that have informed our interpretation of these battles and their impacts.

Presenter: Michael Jacobson, PhD, Executive Director, Office of Strategic Research Initiatives Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Nov 4—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

The Amazon Basin is popularly characterized as a surviving remnant of an ancient and pristine tropical world. However, for over a half century, archaeological research has rejected this stereotype, which was largely forged after the European Age of Discovery. Understanding the pre-Columbian Amazon is primarily an archaeological pursuit. It reveals a vibrant world of complex civilizations that vanished shortly after the onset of the Columbian project. How do we know what we think we know? Our journey begins with a brief introduction to the area and its post-Columbian human history, followed by an historical discussion of how we have often characterized an Amazonian past. We then examine pre-Columbian agro-ecological systems and the indigenous Amazonian civilizations they supported.

Presenter: Peter W. Stahl, Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University, Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Nov 5—6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Delivery: Online using ZOOM

Location: Online Only

Dance styles in Sri Lanka are divided into three different categories and they can be traced back to the traditional ritualistic ceremonies of the country. Early dramatic styles also have been a part of the people's everyday life, and in this class, we will learn the histories and features of dance and theatre in Sri Lanka. This class will be held in the WSKG studio and will not be recorded.

Presenter: Lakshmi Bulathsinghala, adjunct assistant professor in Theater at Binghamton University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Nov 9—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: 1 or Online using Zoom

Forget just about everything you thought you knew about pre-Columbian American civilization. 1491 offers a groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology that rewrites our understanding of the vast American cultures that rose, declined, and disappeared before Columbus' arrival, along with the devastating impact that arrival had on the cultures that were here when he arrived. The New York Times Book Review called Charles Mann "a remarkably engaging writer."

Presenter: George Lohmann

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Nov 9—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Southern Tier Gardening is a series of gardening presentations by Tony Antes, Master Gardener at Broome County Cornell Cooperative Extension. The first hour will be "Intelligent Plants." Can plants think? Can they hear? Feel? Organize? Research is attempting to answer exactly these questions. In the second hour, we will learn about "The Story of Christmas in Plants." Since the earliest Christian times there has been a Christmas association with plants. This symbology has existed far earlier than the Christian Era. We will explore traditional, contemporary, and arcane plants.

Presenter: Tony Antes, Master Gardener

This class meets 1 time:

1. Tuesday, Nov 10—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Just about a 6 hour drive northwest of Binghamton lies Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park--a flatwater paddler's mecca, a wilderness of lakes, forest, and deep, unbroken quiet. Travel there is simple and complete: a boat, a paddle, and everything you need carried with you. Join Jim Conroy and Regina Losinger for an in-person photo and art journey into this backcountry world. This session explores Algonquin's flatwater routes, portages, day paddling, the rhythms of self-supported camping, and their inspiration for creating art. Through photographs, art, and stories, you'll follow their camping trips and day paddles into remote interior lakes. If you like paddling in the Adirondacks, you will love Algonquin. Informal and interactive: gather around maps, examine gear, and try lifting a boat. Come curious. This class will be in-person only and will not be recorded at the request of the presenters.

Presenter: Regina Losinger, Cooperative Gallery 213 exhibiting artist and photographer, and Jim Conroy

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Nov 11—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

We will explore the legends of lore--from Henry Morgan and Black Beard (Edward Teach) to Calico Jack (Jack Rackham) and Anne Bonny. Come and enjoy a swashbuckling adventure into the high seas with this group of notorious villains, but, sorry, no Errol Flynn, just George Cummings and all his artifacts.

Presenter: George Cummings

This class meets 1 time:

1. Wednesday, Nov 11—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Former WSKG producer and now independent filmmaker Brian Frey will share clips from his past documentaries and talk about his plans as an independent storyteller. Frey will offer a glimpse into the creative process behind the crafting of his many documentary films for public television sharing clips and stories about his research and findings. This class will not be recorded.

Presenter: Brian Frey, Independent Filmmaker

This class meets 1 time:

1. Thursday, Nov 12—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: In Person

Location: WSKG Studio

Greenland, considered the world's largest island, has been a target for world explorers for more than a thousand years. More recently, it has attracted those seeking rare minerals, military strategists, researchers studying climate change, and advocates for polar bears and humpback whales. In this course, we review the history of Greenland beginning with the early Vikings and consider its transition to modern times including its fascination among politicians and scientists.

Presenter: Cliff Davidson Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Nov 16—10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom

Becoming a published author can be a difficult road for any writer, but sometimes it can involve a certain amount of humor, insanity and adventure. The setup: a middle-aged woman with a master's degree in writing begins work as an editor with an ambitious woman who runs a literary agency that eventually evolves into a publishing house. Over the years that editor encounters mad bombers, crazy writers, crazy publishers' reps, and Pip, a man with a beautiful English accent, who places the writer's first book with a well-known publisher. And the job just gets stranger from there.

Presenter: Megan Davidson, author, editor and instructor

This class meets 1 time:

1. Monday, Nov 16—1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Delivery: Hybrid (In Person or Online)

Location: WSKG Studio or Online using Zoom