'Life in Three Dimensions - How Curiosity, Exploration and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life' by Shigehiro Oishi, PhD is what motivated this class. The book introduces the concept of a psychologically rich life, alongside the two better-known paths of a happy life and a meaningful life. This class will explore each of these paths to a good life to see whether Oishi's concept may help us to see the world through a new lens.

---

Friday, May 1, Special Programs Building, Room 160 ( No seats currently available )

This course empowers you to become an active environmental conservationist through simple, impactful changes in your home and garden. You'll learn practical strategies for reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and making mindful garden choices that directly benefit the planet and foster a healthy ecosystem in your backyard.

---

No session is currently available for registration

For Boomers, the change graph during our time has gone from a 60-degree slope to a rocket straight up. Assimilating such dramatic change has attacked the fundamental value systems that defined us. Coming out of the Depression and WWII our parents in the US and Canada instilled life principles in us that were considered universal. This bubble was burst in the 60's, and the US and Canada are now more different than ever before.

---

Tuesday, April 28, WHC, Living Room (Deanery) ( No seats currently available )

Critical thinking is important for many reasons, including being a better citizen. As conspiracy theories abound, studying and analyzing the facts, evidence, and truth becomes increasingly important. We will cover the challenges, logic, the fallacies, and the solutions in arriving at the best conclusions. Insights into the brain as well as why science represents the ultimate in evidence-based decisions will be studied. Approaches to critical thinking and the best fact-checking sites will be covered.

---

No session is currently available for registration

The capacity for cumulative cultural evolution seems to be both unique to our species and the origin of our ability to influence and alter the natural world, developing ever larger coordinated groups. In three sessions this course will examine (1) the biological evolutionary adaptations that make culture possible, (2) general mechanisms of cultural evolution and (3) suggested explanations for the temporary European dominance of the world in the 18th-20th centuries.

---

No session is currently available for registration

Islam's entry into the Indian subcontinent was a gradual process spanning several centuries, primarily through trade and later through military conquest. Arab traders established contact with India initially on the western coast along the Gujarat and Malabar areas. These Arab traders became the key figures in introducing faith to the region. Evidence suggest early Muslim settlements began along the coast with mosques being built as early as the 7th century.

---

No session is currently available for registration

Create a beautiful container garden with guidance from Maymont staff in this make-and-take workshop. Learn how to customize and care for your container garden. Guests should bring their own gloves; all other materials will be provided. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your slot.

---

Saturday, April 25, Maymont Gardens

If you joined us for the First Southern Mediterranean class, you should still come to this one to explore all-new recipes: Chicken Shawarma, Tabouli, Muhammara (Roasted Pepper and Walnut Dip), Baba Ganoush, and Zaatar Labneh Dip. Class may run over/under the allotted time. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your vacated slot. Offered twice; please register for only one session.

---

Thursday, April 16, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )
Thursday, April 23, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )

The first thirty years of the twentieth century produced a revolution in physics the likes of which have not been seen before or since. At the center of this revolution was Albert Einsten, known not only for his theories of relativity but also as one of the founders of quantum theory. This course explores the foundations of our modern view of the universe and the major scientific personalities of the time.

---

Fridays, April 3, 10, 17, TBD - UR Campus (5 seats (8%) remaining)

From 1861 to 1865 Richmond was at the center of the Civil War. A community of just 30,000 civilians became the Capitol of the Confederate Government, and the focal point of several military campaigns that would change the country forever. Join a Ranger for a discussion of the importance of these engagements around the Confederacy's Capitol. This will be followed by an update on the fall class on Threats Facing the National Parks.

---

Wednesday, April 15, GOTW, Auditorium Room A001 (6 seats (9%) remaining)

Discover how to grow abundant gardens while restoring the health of the soil and ecosystem. This class introduces principles of regenerative practices: building soil life, conserving water, increasing biodiversity, and creating closed-loop systems. Students will leave with practical techniques to cultivate resilient, sustainable gardens that give back more than they take.

---

Monday, May 11, Special Programs Building, Classroom 156 (3 seats (8%) remaining)

This course will explore the anatomy (structure), physiology (function), and pathology (diseases) of the major organ systems of the body. Major medical advances are reported every day, and it is important for us to understand the workings of our bodies. Join us for this 'mini-medical school' in eight sessions.

---

Wednesdays; Mar 11, 18, 25, Apr 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, WHC, Living Room (Deanery) ( No seats currently available )

This class offers a visual journey through the changing seasons in and around Richmond. From spring blooms and nesting birds to summer butterflies, fall migrations, and winter's quiet beauty, the presentation highlights the rhythms of local wildlife and landscapes. Filled with Jim's beautiful photographs, it also includes suggestions and brief descriptions of nearby parks, gardens, and natural areas, encouraging viewers to explore and connect with local nature.

---

No session is currently available for registration

Join us for tips about being a savvy news consumer in this difficult climate with the rise of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the decline in local newspapers. Virginia Public Media President Jayme Swain will provide an update on what's happening in the news landscape and share how you can tell fact from fiction.

---

Tuesday, April 7, BUS, Ukrop Auditorium Q162 (15 seats (12%) remaining)

Discover the newly-renovated habitats along Maymont's outdoor Virginia Wildlife Trail! Explore our 40-acre valley, home to historic and present-day native Virginia species, many of which are rescued wildlife. Join our educator to learn about the fascinating life histories of these animals and their vital roles in our ecosystem. You'll also get an inside look at how we care for them through specialized diets, enrichment activities, and training. Dress for walking (good shoes, water bottle, etc.). Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your vacated slot.

---

Monday, May 18, Maymont ( No seats currently available )

In American society today, science is often misunderstood and mistrusted, and most people struggle even to define it. This two-part seminar explains what science is and how it developed by tracing its origins through epochs of trial-and-error, missteps, stagnation and near-eradication up to the present day, while highlighting the invention of the critical ideas and factors necessary for modern science and its survival.

---

No session is currently available for registration

In today's society, Science has become controversial and people often find it difficult to define what it is. This seminar traces Science from its pre-historic beginnings through epochs of missteps, stagnation, and near-extinction up to the present day and, while doing so, highlights the critical steps involved in the development of Science. This evolution was undirected and resulted in an institution unique among human endeavors.

---

No session is currently available for registration

This class is back by popular demand, but with all new wines. Do you have to spend a lot of money for a good bottle of wine? Can you tell the difference when you do? We will taste similar wines at different prices, learn what makes the difference, and find out if you can tell. Eight wines will be tasted, each as a pairing with one inexpensive and one more expensive. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your vacated slot.

---

Thursday, May 7, The Kitchen Classroom ( No seats currently available )