Earth's climate has changed profoundly through deep time, leaving evidence in rocks, fossils, ice, sediments, and landscapes. Let's explore how geologists reconstruct ancient environments, why past climates shifted, and what these records reveal about climate sensitivity, feedbacks, and thresholds. By understanding Earth's climate history, we gain a stronger scientific foundation for interpreting today's rapid warming and projecting future change.

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Friday, Oct 16, TBD - UR Campus

Have you ever wondered who shapes the letters that fill our screens, books, and storefronts? Take a journey into the world of typeface design, where artistry meets functionality. In this class, we will explore both the art and science behind crafting typefaces, learn about some of the creative minds behind the fonts we use, and discuss how their work may influence our daily lives.

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Friday, Dec 11, G62 Rare Book Room

If you are familiar with the library resources but want to go beyond the basics, this session will explore some of the more interesting and unusual digital collections and databases. This is an advanced session that builds on the information introduced in Bounty of Boatwright.

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Wednesday, Nov 18, Library Conference Room 232

Learn how to find books, articles, and other resources that are of interest to you. This session provides an overview for beginners or those new to Osher and includes a virtual tour of the library.

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Friday, Sept 11, Synchronous Online

Join your fellow Osher members as we remember all who have served in our armed forces over the years. We plan to have a special guest speaker and our ROTC students as part of this important program.

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Monday, Nov 9, JAC, Robins Pavilion 151

Join Bill Leighty, former chief of staff to two Virginia governors, as he leads a panel discussion on the November 2026 Virginia elections. A panel of seasoned political analysts will examine the key questions of 'What happened?' and 'Why?'. The discussion will also offer insights into Virginia's pivotal role in potentially shaping the broader political landscape for the national 2028 elections.

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Friday, Nov 13, TBD - UR Campus

Let's examine Mary Shelley's 1818 work 'Frankenstein' not as story but as book and object. Through the lens of print culture, we will explore the history of the book itself to understand Frankenstein as a living cultural object, asking how each form of the book changed and sometimes transformed itself across two hundred years of publishing history to become the cultural touchstone it is today.

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Friday, Oct 16, Synchronous Online

International trade and tariffs have become issues in the upcoming national election. This is often part of a larger discussion about the pros and cons of 'Globalization.' Is it good or bad for Virginia? What is the significance of trade and international investment in Virginia? Join us for a lively presentation and discussion of these topics and more.

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Tuesday, Oct 27, TBD - UR Campus

Come explore Shalom Farms at its Northside location. This guided tour will include a short presentation on Shalom's mission, food justice, and how Shalom approaches distribution, programming, and community engagement. An experienced guide will then walk folks around the farm to look at what's in season, talk about Certified Naturally Grown growing practices, and taste some yummy summer vegetables.

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Tuesday, Oct 13, Shalom Farms - NORTHSIDE

Earth has moved through repeated ice ages over the past 30 million years, shaped by tectonics, atmospheric carbon dioxide, orbital cycles, ocean circulation, and feedbacks involving ice and albedo. This presentation explores the development of Earth's modern cryosphere (the frozen world), the waxing and waning of ice sheets, and how today's rapid warming is transforming glaciers, polar ice, sea ice, permafrost, and future sea level.

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Monday, Sept 28, TBD - UR Campus

In this era of increasing polarization, distinguishing fact from fiction has become ever more difficult, contributing to both declining trust in institutions and growing public fatigue with civic discourse. Featuring guest speakers from higher education and the local media, this session will examine how facts are established, evaluated, and communicated, and how information spreads throughout society.

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Wenesday, Nov 4, Independence Golf Club

Come celebrate the historic 2025/2026 season. In 2025 Richmond again fought hard for the Atlantic 10 Regular Season title, the year-end A10 Championship, and earned one of the few mid-majors at-large bids into the NCAA DI Women's Basketball Tournament. The 2025/2026 season also saw the completion of the college basketball career of Maggie Doogan. She not only holds many important UR records, but is considered by many the best basketball player in UR history. Join this class to see if you agree. As a special treat Alisa Kresge our new WBB Head Coach will join the class to share her insights into the upcoming season and answer your questions. Coach Kresge has also invited the class to an upcoming practice. The date of practice will be available prior to the classroom portion. The third portion of the class will be our attendance at the WBB 2026 home opener in the Robins Center. Spoiler alert: those attending this class will be offered a free pass to the home opener courtesy of our Osher program. If you love Spider Women's Basketball this is the class for you. Or if you just want to see what all the excitement is about, come join us.

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Monday, Oct 26, TBD - UR Campus

Learn how to access and fully enjoy the many benefits of being a member of the Osher Institute and the larger UR community. Designed for new members, but offers tips for all.

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Friday, Sept 11, Synchronous Online

We will consider how we arrived at the current form of the periodic table, how credit is assigned for it, and how much it has been influenced by non-scientific considerations.

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Wednesday, Oct 7, TBD - UR Campus

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was very impressed with Descartes's philosophy, but he thought Descartes had made a serious mistake: It simply could not be true that mind and body are separate substances. Spinoza followed the logic to a surprising conclusion: that all things, both physical and mental, are aspects of one infinite substance. This class will explore Spinoza's reasoning and the ramifications of his understanding of reality, including its implications for religion, ethics, psychology, and environmentalism.

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Monday, Sept 28, TBD - UR Campus

Join this class to explore how we could all benefit from research-based strategies for managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Modern environments challenge our capacity to focus and complete tasks. Fortunately, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adult ADHD offers insights on how to take back your attention and turn your intentions into actions, regardless of whether you have ADHD.

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Wednesday, Sept 23, TBD - UR Campus

From the oared galleys at Salamis to today's contest in the South China Sea, twenty-five centuries of naval power can be told as one continuous story. Five epochs -- galleys, sail, steel, carriers, and the modern era -- built on the foundation of 'Potter and Nimitz's Sea Power: A Naval History,' the text used in the instructor's own naval education at Annapolis and in his teaching ever since.

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Tuesday, Dec 1, TBD - UR Campus

From ship logs and travel guides to maps and images of faraway places, the Galvin Rare Book Room and Archives holds centuries of human wandering. In this course, you can travel from ancient Pompeii to the early American frontier, take a grand tour of Europe, explore South American landscapes, and venture beyond. Come explore the words and images left behind by the explorers, adventurers, and dreamers who journeyed before us.

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Friday, Dec 4, G62 Rare Book Room

Take a walking tour of the UR campus, named one of the nation's most beautiful campuses in the Princeton Review. Learn about the history of the University, enjoy the beautiful landscaping and architecture, and hear some stories along the way. The walk will be about 2.5 miles in length and will require climbing steps and walking on various surfaces. Walking shoes and water are recommended.

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Friday, Oct 16, THCX, Sculpture outside Modlin Center

US veterans living in Virginia: don't let your story fade away. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services has awarded Words of Veterans grants to help Veterans like you keep your story alive! Let's talk about how you can contribute.

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Monday, Sept 14, Synchronous Online

Today we associate Stoicism with dispassion or resignation in the face of adversity. But ancient Stoicism was a vibrant worldview and way of living for 500 years. This class explores the Stoics's belief in the cosmic Logos, their 'cosmopolitan' vision of human equality, and their practices of living 'according to nature.' Discussion may include the concepts of 'nature' and 'duty' and the place of reason and emotion in human life.

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Tuesday, Dec 8, TBD - UR Campus

In 1975, philosopher Michel Foucault wondered why it is that, although everyone knows prisons fail to deter crime or rehabilitate criminals, nobody has a good alternative. Why does imprisonment seem like the only way to handle crime? This class will examine Foucault's now classic account of the rise of the prison and the concept of criminality, as well as links between prisons and other modern institutions, e.g., schools and factories.

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Wednesday, Nov 11, TBD - UR Campus