Insects surged to ecological dominance by evolving larvae—grubs, maggots, and caterpillars—with extraordinary survival strategies and life cycle advantages. Wildlife documentary filmmaker Steve Nicholls explores their remarkable origins and the ingenious ways these vulnerable young thrive, from impersonating predators to forming intricate social networks.
The search for planets outside our solar system has found more than 6,000 such worlds, known as exoplanets. Now the race is on to find Earth-sized temperate planets, understand their atmospheres, and discover any signs of life on them. Learn how astronomers are carrying out this search and what they’ve been finding with Peter Plavchan, the NASA Landolt Space Mission’s principal investigator. Following the talk, Rob Parks, director of the George Mason Observatory, brings the skies into your living room with remote control of the observatory, weather permitting.
Cultural historian George Scheper explores Oaxaca, Mexico—a vital crossroads from pre-Columbian times to today. He highlights the Zapotec and Mixtec peoples, Spanish colonial legacy, and Oaxaca’s evolution into a global arts center. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts well-preserved colonial churches and palaces and a dynamic cultural life that reflects centuries of rich heritage and creative expression.
John Brown, a devout Christian and fierce abolitionist, rose to prominence during “Bleeding Kansas,” fighting to keep the state free of slavery. His 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry and subsequent execution made him an international symbol of the anti-slavery movement. Though best known for Kansas and Harpers Ferry, some scholars argue that the complicated Brown helped ignite the Civil War. Historian and author Stephen Engle, author of the upcoming Reckoning with Justice: The Execution of John Brown, explores Brown’s transformation from zealot to revolutionary.
Procreate for iPad contains powerful features that can be intimidating at any experience level. This 3-hour workshop guides students through advanced techniques using Procreate to create an animated photo illustration.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is considered one of the greatest works in English literature. Literature professor Joseph Luzzi explores this play about murder, revenge, and madness that resonates with generations of readers and viewers. He also highlights Shakespeare’s philosophical brilliance, linguistic inventiveness, and ability to capture the most complex—and often unsettling—human emotions.
The Victorians prided themselves on interest in technology and innovations in medicine and science, though the line between pseudo-science and academic knowledge was thin. Historian Julie Taddeo highlights fads like mesmerism, phrenology, and spiritualism, showing how science was consumed as entertainment. Homes displayed “trophies of empire,” while public shows misused Darwin’s theories to justify imperial expansion and Britain’s “civilizing mission.” Queen Victoria followed scientific sensations, and ordinary Britons used them to navigate uncertainty. From mummy unveilings to “Zulu exhibitions,” science, empire, and entertainment intertwined.
Naturalist and wildlife photographer Matt Felperin leads a visual tour across the coasts of Florida, one of North America’s premier birding destinations. Explore the state’s remarkable range of habitats—from Gulf estuaries and mangrove swamps to Atlantic beaches, wetlands, and inland prairies—and discover why more than 500 bird species have been recorded there. Felperin also showcases some of Florida’s top birding hotspots and parks that draw avian-loving travelers.
