STEM   

The current telescopes exploring the universe are revolutionizing our understanding. These modern space and ground-based telescopes are essential tools for exploring the cosmos, enabling us to study galaxies, stars, planets, and cosmic phenomena. We are acquiring new perspectives on such things as the early galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres (with the potential presence of life beyond Earth), the mystery of Dark Energy, and the nature of the cosmic expansion. This class will examine the many telescopes, current and future, including the Chandra Xray Observatory (imaging Black Holes, Galaxy Clusters, Dark Matter.) the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Detecting exoplanets by observing stellar transits), the Euclid Telescope (Mapping dark matter and dark energy), the SPHEREx (launched March 2025) to study the Galaxies, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (to be launched May 2027) to study Dark Energy, exoplanets, and stellar Evolution. All of these incredible tools are designed to bring more clarity and understanding to the cosmos, our home.

The newest telescopes are revolutionizing scientists’ understanding of space. These space-based and ground-based telescopes are essential tools for exploring the cosmos, enabling us to study galaxies, stars, planets, and cosmic phenomena. The James Webb Space Telescope has greatly expanded our understanding of the universe’s origins and structure. We are acquiring new perspectives on such things as the early galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres, the mystery of dark energy, and cosmic expansion.

In this class we will examine the many space telescopes, including the Chandra Xray Observatory (imaging black holes, galaxy clusters, dark matter); the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (detecting exoplanets by observing stellar transits); the Euclid Telescope (mapping dark matter and dark energy); the SPHEREx to study the galaxies; and the anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (to study dark energy, exoplanets, and stellar evolution). All of these incredible tools should bring greater clarity and understanding to the cosmos, our home.

This speaker series course will explore how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming various aspects of life and work, from how we access, process, and interact with information, to how learning experiences are being transformed, illnesses diagnosed, and tasks and jobs automated. We will talk about right now, not about the future or theory. Bring your curiosity and questions. A background in IT or previous knowledge is not required.

Week 1: September 16, 2025 What is Artificial Intelligence(AI)? An overview of how it developed and how generative AI is changing our everyday lives. Can AI think, does it hallucinate? Speaker: Pat Smith

Week 2: September 23, 2025 Artificial intelligence is changing transportation from self-driving cars to drone delivery. Speaker: Ron Knox

Week 3: September 30, 2025 How artificial intelligence and machine learning is transforming health care. Speaker: Casey Greene, Ph.D., CU Medical School, Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Informatics

Week 4: October 7, 2025 How is AI changing the education landscape? How are we preparing future military leaders to use AI? ChatGPT is now being licensed by schools and colleges and changing how students take tests, write papers and do research. Speaker: Eric Tucker, Associate Professor in the Management Department at the United States Air Force Academy

Week 5: October 14, 2025 Drones with artificial intelligence are literally changing geopolitical warfare. The latest on drones and AI in the military. Speaker: Bill Gernert

Week 6: October 21, 2025 Field trip to Arapahoe Community College to learn how AI is being used in clinical programs and a live demonstration of the Anatomage table, a 3D virtual cadaver system. Speaker: Lexi Gaines, PT, DPT, Faculty, Director of Clinical Education Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Week 7: October 28, 2025 Bits and pieces - a potpourri of amazing ways AI is being used including its use in detecting brain tumors, dementia, and breast cancer risk. Plus how AI is cutting down on construction waste and improving farming. Speaker: Jan Friedlander

This course will explore the development of maps and navigation through history. Advancements in the art and technology of cartography allowed our forebears to move from a world defined by their local surroundings to oceanic exploration and on to global commerce. The course will begin with the ancient Babylonians and their study of the motion of the stars and the planets. We will progress through time -- exploring the Greeks, discussing the “Search for Longitude,” and ending with the modern age of digital maps and satellite navigation.

Along our journey of videos and facilitator presentations, we will look at individuals who were key to advancing the expertise involved in maps and navigation. We will also examine some of the explorers and surveyors who expanded the knowledge of our world. Finally, we will look at some of the errors, frauds, and geographical misconceptions that have arisen over the years.

Through a lively exploration of interactive digital maps, past and present, let’s explore Colorado! What are the longest and widest rivers in the state? The strangest boundary of the state? The weirdest place names? What was the street layout of Denver and Colorado Springs 100 years ago? We will explore Colorado’s history, landforms, water, habitat, population change, energy, land use, biomes, natural hazards, and much more through this engaging and relevant course. Whether you are from Colorado or not, this course may challenge a few preconceived notions you have about the Centennial State, confirm some others, and make you glad that you live in Colorado (or make you want to visit!).

Quantum Mechanics is arguably the most important invention of the human mind. Our standard of living has increased enormously due to its applications to computers and communications, education, entertainment, medical devices, navigation, energy production, travel safety, and other advances.

Yet, many mysteries remain. Experiments show that the quantum world is weirder than science fiction. Scientists cannot agree on how to interpret its seemingly illogical predictions, even though the theory continues to successfully explain the world of the atom and its components.

This class will present the history of quantum science, its key personalities, a non-technical explanation of its guiding tenets, what is and isn’t understood, and the exciting future it offers in computing and communication security.

Professors usually say 'Shut up and calculate' to students who want answers about the foundations of quantum mechanics. We will expose those shadowy areas and offer the best current explanations.

Do you want to advance and expand your use of AI?

In 2023, Google released Gemini 2.5 with a powerful research application called NotebookLM.

This class will explore the 4 Best NotebookLM and AI Prompt Practices: 1) Target Your AI Questions, 2) Analyze Multiple Input Documents, 3) Generate Summaries, 4)Translate to Audio Overview of your NotebookLM research.

By using NotebookLM and AI prompts of Gemini, means you can upload multiple documents, have NotebookLM analyze them, and check for contextual connections between documents relevant to your question. NotebookLM will then generate useful cited source responses to your question. One great feature is NotebookLM can translate the response summary to an audio overview.

Learn by doing: You will do your own research with NotebookLM using your laptop. You will learn how to ask questions about complex information and get thoughtful, cited responses to your research questions. Members should bring their own laptop to class.

No Class 9/23

Have you ever wondered what “Fracking” is, and why it is controversial? How is a horizontal well drilled with a rig that only moves pipe vertically? How does a directional driller control and measure the placement of the wellbore? Who are the team members involved in planning and executing an oil well, and how long does it take? What are the economics of drilling and producing oil, and why is gasoline so expensive? We will cover these questions and more, with examples of what can go wrong. The BP Deepwater Horizon Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico in 2011 and other incidents will be used to illustrate the drilling process, loss of well control, and intercept and plugging of oil and gas wells.

This class provides a journey through science (STEM & Health Science) with both guest speakers and experienced OLLI facilitators presenting a 2-hour class on a topic of their choice.

While the weeks for each topic have not yet been scheduled, each of the following topics will be presented by a subject matter expert.

1. Patients and Doctors: What Makes Them Tick, Bridging the Gap Between You and Your Doctor – Bill Shaw

2. Searching For Other Earths: Our Growing Understanding Of The Cosmos And Our Place In It – Charlie Holt

3. Neuroplasticity: A Brain Awakened – Dutch Thompson

4. Colorado’s Propensity for Drought– Jim Kunkel

5. Fossils: What are they and what can they tell us – Larry Matten

6. The Moon: Facts and a Little Fiction – Lynn Peyton

7. Electricity, Education, Entrepreneurship - A Solar Case Study from India - Ranjan San 8. Lightning, Tornadoes, and Hail, Oh my! – Tom Corona

Water availability and climate-change issues continue to confront stakeholders and decision makers both in the U.S. and globally. This course is divided into two separate (4-week) segments, each giving selected examples that address these topics: (1) the continuing drought in the southwestern U.S.; and (2) global water and climate-change frameworks and regulatory policies. In the first four sessions, pending and recent OLLI presentations will be updated and enhanced to examine the impacts of water and climate change on major water-resource components, including rivers, aquifers, and lakes. In the final four sessions, regional and global perspectives encompassing these issues will be presented for general discussion, including updates on the EU’s water framework directive and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

What is the ionosphere? Will solar flares hit us? What are CMEs? What does an X flare mean? How will it affect us? Why do we have auroras? What is a geomagnetic storm? Will an asteroid hit us? Will the magnetic field change poles? What is a light year? What is gravitational lensing?

These are some of the questions we all have, and they will be answered in this class. We’ll explore the building of the ISS (International Space Station), and what it’s like to live in space. How many satellites do we have, and what are they doing? What will the Artemis program accomplish? And should we go to Mars? We’ll also delve into what is beyond our solar system, and discuss SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence).