The Etymology of the Word Glitter

September 13

Speaker: Nicole Seymour, Associate Professor, Environment Studies, CSUF

Bloomsbury Publishing describes its “Object Lessons” series as “short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things”—from the shipping container to the telephone booth. In her OLLI presentation, Dr. Nicole Seymour will present from her new book in the series, Glitter ( https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/glitter-9781501373770/ ). This wide-ranging talk will cover the etymology of the word glitter, its appearance in ancient as well as contemporary visual art, and the development of biodegradable alternatives to typically plastic commercial glitter. While this substance is often dismissed as frivolous, Dr. Seymour will show how it reflects the entanglements of consumerism, environmentalism, politics, aesthetics and more.

Emerging Concern for Environmental Contaminant

September 27

Speaker:

Sudarshan Kurwadkar, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, CSUF

Dr. Kurwadkar’s research work is interdisciplinary, broad-based and collaborative with faculty colleagues in biology, chemistry and mathematics. His work also centers on involving undergraduate and graduate students in research activities to bring real-world relevance to classroom instruction. Dr. Kurwadkar will speak about his research regarding the concern for environmental contaminants.

Why We Love Disney

October 11

Speaker:

Andi Stein, Emeritus, Former Professor, College of Communications

Since its beginnings as a small studio in the 1920s, the Walt Disney Company has become one of the most influential organizations in the world of entertainment. From films to television to theme parks, Disney characters and creations are recognized and loved by fans of all ages. Join Professor Andi Stein as she discusses the growth and development of the Walt Disney Company and explores why Disney has been so successful in building its brand and spreading magic throughout the world.

A Splendid Variety: My Journey to Choral Music

October 25

Speaker: Dr. Robert Istad, Director of Choral Studies, CSUF

In 1994, Dr Istad encountered the overwhelming magic of choral music for the first time. The experience was so profound that he gave up his ambition to pursue a career in medicine for chorus. He will share with you the reasons he believes singing in a choir is as near an earthly magic as one may encounter. Breathing together, singing together, and lifting diverse communities together in song is more than connective, it is extraordinarily spiritual. He will share with you his favorite music, stories about his most interesting encounters with celebrities, his passion for uniting instrumentalists and vocalists in large performance experiences, and his predictions for the bright future of classical choral music. He promises a few surprises as well!

The Evolution of the Theatre

November 8

Speaker: Amanda Rose Villerreal, Assistant Professor of Theatre Education

A lot of people in the theatre industry are debating (very heatedly) right now about how and whether theatre should evolve, and this includes conversations about the value and validity of interactive (immersive) theatre and theatrical performances delivered online (or digitized theatre). Dr. Villerreal will discuss the ways theatre and theatre education have evolved, and how these evolutions (such as the addition of electrical lighting) have historically been seen as ‘threats’ to the art form. We will also discuss what the group considers to be the defining characteristics of theatre and whether we believe the newest proposed additions to the art form enhance theatre or are, indeed, threats to the form.

Negative Thermal Expansion Materials

November 29

Speaker: Dr. Joya Cooley, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, CSUF

Thermal expansion, the way materials change shape when you heat or cool them, is an important property to be able to understand and control. Many objects that people rely on every day (i.e., building materials, aerospace parts etc.) can wear out or fail more easily if their thermal expansion is not matched well, thus creating more waste and higher costs in the world. While many materials expand as you heat them, some materials shrink as you heat them and are important to study. Therefore, it is important to understand how to control these properties so that new types of materials can be engineered. Professor Cooley focuses on understanding why certain classes of materials, which consist of earth-abundant elements, shrink instead of expanding upon heating.