Albert Einstein, caricature by J. Reynolds for “Two Very Good Years,” Oct. 17, by Fort Lewis College adjunct professor Chuck Carson. (Courtesy of Judith Reynolds)
“A fun history,” says Chuck Carson about his presentation on Albert Einstein, “not a science talk.”
In the midst of the Fall Life-Long-Learning presentations at Fort Lewis College, Carson, adjunct professor at FLC, will present “Two Very Good Years” on Oct. 17. Inspired by a play he saw last summer at PlayFest titled “Mrs. Einstein,” the retired engineer developed his talk for the company. The goal was to aid in understanding the universe through discoveries that shook the scientific world. Carson’s presentation was so well received, he’s been invited to repeat it in the FLC series
Chuck Carson, retired engineer from Sandia Labs, will speak Oct. 17 in 130 Noble Hall at Fort Lewis College. (Courtesy of J. Reynolds)
Co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the FLC Professional Associates, a volunteer organization of college supporters, the series is closing out its 24th year of offering free, town-gown lectures to the Durango community.
“Every year, we aim for a mix of faculty and community experts plus the special Chautauqua presentations,” said Gary Rottman, LLL team leader. “This year, we open with two living-history offerings by scholar-actor Brian ‘Fox’ Ellis, September 5 and 6. Brian is returning to Durango for two performances as Meriwether Lewis and as Walt Whitman.”
If you go
WHAT: Fort Lewis College Fall Life-Long Learning Lecture Series.
Last fall, Ellis appeared as John James Audubon and Charles Darwin to standing-room-only crowds at the college and the Powerhouse Science Center. This year, his two performances will be in 130 Noble Hall on campus.
“This is a real coup for us,” Rottman said. “Brian is one of the most compelling Chautauqua presenters we have ever had. The response last year was overwhelming, and, luckily, we were able to schedule him again for this fall.”
Charles DiFerdinando will discuss the original Fort Lewis at 7 p.m. Sept. 19. (Courtesy of Judith Reynolds)
Fall 2024 schedule
Sept. 5-6: Chautauqua Presentations of Meriwether Lewis and Walt Whitman by Brian “Fox” Ellis. Spend one or two evenings with this well-known storyteller, historian and author as he portrays two distinguished Americans: the explorer and expedition leader who led an overland trek to the Pacific Ocean from 1804-06, and the garrulous poet who also served as a hospital volunteer during the Civil War.Sept. 12: A Misplaced Massacre: Struggling Over the Memory of Sand Creek by Ari Kelman. Professor Ari Kelman from UC-Davis will discuss the century-and-a-half struggle over the meaning of events that took place in the southeastern Colorado Territory on Nov. 29, 1884. A National Historic Site was opened there in 2007.Sept. 19: The First Fort Lewis by Charles DiFerdinando. One of our finest local historians will fill in the early history of the original Fort Lewis, a United States Military Post in Southwest Colorado.Sept. 26: As We See Ourselves: The strange story of self-portraiture by Judith Reynolds. The selfie has emerged as a template for the golden age of photography. Reynolds will examine the obsession with self-portraiture and surprisingly, when it began – during the Renaissance.Oct. 3: Understanding Your Carbon Footprint by Susan Atkinson and John Purser. Two volunteers from the Citizen’s Climate Lobby will discuss how we can go beyond individual action to make wise, climate-friendly choices.Oct. 10: A Lawyer’s Journey for the Earth by Grant Wilson. Humans are only one part of nature, so “Earth Lawyer” Wilson will take us on a journey to explore Earth-centered legal innovations from across the world, including Colorado.Oct. 17: Two Very Good Years by Chuck Carson. In this “fun history – not a science talk,” retired engineer and FLC adjunct professor Carson will discuss in layperson’s terms the context and importance of the early works of Albert Einstein.Oct. 24: How to Grow Food and Healthy People by Darrin Parmenter and Tom Bartels. Well-known local gardeners will share helpful hints on how to plant a garden that you need to weed only once a year, harvest lots of food, and bring endless smiles to you and your friends.Oct. 31: The Price of Pacifism: Quakers in the Revolution by Eilene Lyon. Genealogist and author will examine how the American Revolution placed pacifist sects in the crosshairs of both sides.Nov. 7: The Unique Importance of Archaeology in Colorado by Elizabeth Perry. The President and CEO of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center will share some little-known information about archaeology in the Southwest and what it means for all of us.Nov. 14: Artificial Intelligence for High Education by George Widmeyer. Retired technology professor Widmeyer will focus on GenAI in support of student learning in disciplines from the sciences to the humanities. This is a follow-up to his popular lecture from last year.Nov. 21: Shostakovich and Soviet Trauma by the FLC Piano Trio. Violinist Richard Silvers, cellist Katherine Jetter and pianist Holly Quist will present Shostakovich’s biography, discuss musicological aspects of style and perform his Piano Trio No. 2 (1943-44) in the Jones Building’s Roshong Recital Hall.Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Break – no lecture.Dec. 5: Why Durango Looks the Way it Does by Greg Hoch. Durango’s former city planner for more than three decades will trace how forward-looking guidance shaped the historic town we live in today, its downtown, commercial corridors and neighborhoods.
Retired technology professor George Widmeyer will focus on GenAI in student learning from the sciences to the humanities on Nov. 14. (Courtesy of J. Reynolds)Former City Planner Greg Hoch will discuss why Durango looks the way it does today on Dec. 5. (Courtesy of J. Reynolds)Chautauqua living-history presenter Brian “Fox” Ellis will present Meriwether Lewis on Sept. 5 at FLC. (Courtesy of J. Reynolds)
