ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING
LAUNCHES FALL LECTURE SERIES

August 29, 2007

Population growth, the next generation and the energy-efficient Biohaus are among the topics covered by this fall’s Tuesday morning lecture series sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) of Bemidji State University.

Beginning September 18 and ending November 6, the lectures include a bus trip to the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. Speakers include BSU President Dr. Jon Quistgaard.

Except where noted, lectures run from 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at BSU’s Center for Research and Innovation (CRI), 3801 Bemidji Ave. N. All are free except for the bus trip, which costs $35. All are open to the public.

Here is a summary of the talks:

1. September 18. Thomas Beech, professor of political science at BSU, will discuss “Singapore: Challenging our Perceptions of Development.” Singapore enjoyed spectacular economic growth during the past four decades, becoming the 18th wealthiest city in the world. Singapore remains one of the world’s last city-states and is dominated by a single political party, at odds with traditional Western assumptions of development. Beech will discuss the evolution of this city-state and speculate on the potential relevance for other developing countries.
2. September 25. Enjoy camels and pyramids? Ernie and Patt Rall and Betty Hanson, Academy of Lifelong Learning Board Members and world travelers, will present “Views from a Camel,” a travelogue about a March 2007 trip to Egypt and Jordan. Learn about ancient and modern life in these two countries.
3. Tuesday, October 2. Virgil Benoit, a French professor at the University of North Dakota, will present “Learning through ethnic literacy,” using the example of Antoine Gringas, North Dakota’s most successful early entrepreneur.
4. October 9. Dr. Jon Quistgaard, president of Bemidji State University, will present “Generation What's Next,” an exploration of the nature and needs of the next generation. Who is “Generation Next?” Are they really all that different? What do they expect? What must we provide? It’s the university’s job to know.
5. October 16. Massive windows and shutters help Das BioHaus at the Concordia Language Villages save massive amounts of energy. Warren Schulze, assistant director of facilities at the language villages, will discuss the cutting edge technologies used in building the house. It is the only building of its kind in North America to be officially certified by the German Passive Haus Institute.
6. Tuesday, October 23. ALL will head out of town on a bus trip to Fargo’s Plains Art Museum, which features national and regional contemporary art, traditional American Indian art, and traditional folk art. The cost of this event is $35.00, which covers transportation, lunch, and the tour. Contact Sharon Fruetel at sfruetel@paulbunyan.net or 218-751-3146 for more information and to register.
7. October 30. As the world’s population swells, so does Beltrami County’s. Aquatic biologist Dann Siems will present “Lessons from Hardin's 'Tragedy of the Commons' in a local context: Beltrami County lakes and rivers.” An expanding population dramatically increases developmental pressures on local lakes and streams. Siems will explore our choices in coming years and the consequences of our collective decisions.
8. November 6. American Red Cross volunteer Cynthia D. Schulze will present “Answering the Call for Help in Times of Disaster,” a look at how disaster assistance is mobilized and coordinated by an ever changing army of volunteers across the country, within the Red Cross, and between various agencies. She will  put a face on those who serve and those who are served.

ALL offers humanities-based programs that are made possible in part with funding from the Minnesota Humanities Commission in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The academy is a member of the Minnesota Humanities Commission’s Learning in Retirement Network (LIRN), which promotes older adult humanities education. Through humanities programs, LIRN members study enduring ideas, reflect on experiences, analyze important issues and contribute to the educational well being of their communities.

More information about the Academy of Lifelong Learning is available by contacting the Center for Research and Innovation, Bemidji State University, 1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601-2699 (218-755-4900).