National Osher Online

National Osher Online is a pilot project of the Osher National Resource Center (NRC). It kicked off in the fall of 2022, and UR's Osher Institute was one of the original pilot sites. We continue to offer these classes each semester.

These national classes feature some of the best, most experienced instructors across the Osher network. The hope is that the pilot will be eventually scaled nationwide and offered to the entire Osher network.

Osher Online courses will not replace any existing, local programming but instead offer a unique, online learning modality with a variety of courses to supplement existing offerings by individual institutes. This pilot program will provide members across the country with a means to connect with each other and learn together by participating in this new initiative, while maintaining membership at their local institute.

We are grateful to the Bernard Osher Foundation, Northwestern University, and the Osher NRC for their support and hard work in making this happen.

Courses

National Osher Online - A Beautiful Brain

Most conversations about aging focus on lifespan, but brainspan (how long our mind stays sharp) matters more. In this course, we will explore how the brain ages and what science reveals about protecting memory, balance, and clarity. Topics include normal changes versus early dementia, neuroplasticity, nutrition, sleep, stress, social ties, and purpose. Each session blends science with self-tests and take-home practices. We will build a personalized Cognitive Health Scorecard to track habits and strengthen resilience.

Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - A History of Street Art

Art in the streets (including graffiti, murals, stickers, and paste-ups) gives voice to marginalized communities, shapes urban environments, and challenges institutional norms. Let's explore graffiti and street art in the US and around the world, examining their histories, motivations, and social impact. Participants will consider the rise of global mural movements, efforts to preserve and present street art, and its evolving role in activism, community identity, and social change.

Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - AI for Regular People

This updated course offers a clear, engaging introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it's rapidly transforming our world. From self-driving cars to chatbots and precision medicine, we will explore how AI works, where it's headed, and what it means for society. No tech experience needed, just curiosity! With fresh examples and timely updates, participants will gain a solid understanding of the opportunities and challenges AI presents today.

Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - California Uncovered: A Journey Through Time, Place, and Identity

California is more than a state: it is an idea, a dream, and a contradiction. We will journey from its earliest Indigenous cultures through Spanish, Mexican, and American rule, exploring missions, the Gold Rush, the railroad, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley. We will challenge myths, highlight overlooked voices, and examine how migration, innovation, and cultural change shaped the Golden State. We will discover what it has meant, and still means, to be Californian.

Fridays, April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Comic Book Literature

Comics (blending words and pictures to tell stories) stretch from cave paintings and the Bayeux Tapestry to today's Batman and Spider-Man. Far more than superhero tales, comics are a versatile literary artform, capturing intimate and epic stories, social issues, and cultural moments through panels and word balloons. In this course, we will trace their history, explore their power, and read and discuss works including 'Understanding Comics,' 'Watchmen,' 'Maus,' 'Fun Home,' and 'Persepolis.'

Tuesdays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Frank Lloyd Wright and Modern Architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We'll examine how Wright's work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design.

Tuesdays, April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - From Leo XIII to Leo XIV: History of 20th and 21st Century Popes

The death of Pope Francis and the election of the first US-born Pope have been in the news repeatedly over the last few months, capturing the imagination of many people, including non-Catholics. Who are these men? What are their life stories? How were they similar to and different from each other? In this course, we will discuss the lives and dominant perspectives of the last ten Popes, exploring their influence on world affairs.

Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Ghosts in the White House: The People Behind Presidential Speeches

Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course traces the evolution of speechwriting from George Washington's administration to today. Yes, Hamilton helped draft Washington's Farewell Address, but no, Lincoln did not scribble the Gettysburg Address on an envelope. We will study the writing process presidents used and examine drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view clips from speeches and former White House speechwriters describing the process.

Mondays, March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Great Science Stories

Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally discovered, launched the modern pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment opened the door to new physics. Discoveries are never just facts. They are moments of creativity, struggle, and chance with far-reaching consequences. In this course, we will explore the human side of science, tracing breakthroughs in biology, chemistry, physics, and more. We will ask not only what was found, but how and why it matters.

Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - JFK's Quest for Peace: Lessons for Turbulent Times

Throughout his 1000-day presidency, John Kennedy pursued peace through a broad spectrum of initiatives. He saw a connection between learning and leadership and sought to use military deterrence, diplomacy, and soft power in novel ways. Let's explore how his character and life experiences were the origins of those efforts. We will evaluate his powers of persuasion by listening to key speeches, and we will assess his successes and failures and their relevance to today's world.

Thursday, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Music: Controversies and Curiosities

Music has long provoked debate, from Beethoven and Stravinsky's bold innovations to Broadway works like 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'South Pacific,' now revisited through modern concerns about race, consent, and gender. Is political correctness enriching art or erasing cultural heritage? We will examine plagiarism and borrowing in pop and film music, with cases involving The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Peter Frampton. This course blends audiovisuals, anecdotes, and humor to explore music's most controversial moments.

Wednesdays, April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Place, Memory, and Environmental Psychology

How much of who we are is shaped by the places we live and experience? This course invites reflection on the psychological and emotional relationships between people and their environments. Drawing on psychology, geography, architecture, and design, we'll explore environmental psychology and how physical environments shape behavior, cognition, identity, and memory. We will discuss concepts such as place attachment, identity, and cognitive maps, and reflect on memory, home, trauma, displacement, and nature's role in well-being.

Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Siberia: Russia's Frozen Wasteland or Economic Heartland?

Siberia covers three quarters of Russia's territory but is home to only a quarter of its population. Yet its role in shaping Russia as a vast and wealthy empire is profound. We will explore Siberia's economic significance, indigenous cultures, and history as a penal colony, along with its importance for climate change, environmental issues, and Russian-Chinese relations. We will also consider Siberia's role in both the rise and possible fragmentation of Russia.

Wednesday, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - The Lost Generation

Let's examine the cultural transformations in thinking and living that reshaped America and Western Europe between World War I and the Great Depression. Known as the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, and the Lost Generation, this period redefined values and norms. We will explore the vibrant world of 1920s Paris through F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'Babylon Revisited' and 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair,' Ernest Hemingway's 'The Sun Also Rises,' and Gertrude Stein's 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas.'

Wednesdays, April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - The Scopes Monkey Trial: Then and Now

In July 1925, Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, and others converged on Dayton, Tennessee, for the Scopes Monkey Trial: an eight-day clash over religion, science, public education, free speech, and textbooks broadcast nationwide. Now, 100 years later, these debates continue. This course explores why the trial happened in Dayton, how Bryan and Darrow became involved, what occurred in the courtroom, whether 'Inherit the Wind' reflects reality, who won/lost, and why it all still matters today.

Tuesdays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Violinists: Performers and Composers

Why do so many great violinists also become composers? Let's explore the fascinating legacy of violinist-composers, including Baroque virtuosos like Heinrich Biber, Romantic legends like Niccol< Paganini, and 20th century innovators like George Enescu and Grazyna Bacewicz. We will examine how these artists wrote music tailored to their instruments and themselves. Taught by a professional violinist, this course takes a behind-the-strings look at how performance and composition intertwine.

Mondays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, Synchronous Online

National Osher Online - Writing the Personal Essay: Finding Your Story

The personal essay, one of the oldest forms of creative nonfiction, blends storytelling, reflection, and analysis to give voice to lived experience. We will explore the personal essay as both art and self-expression. Through readings, discussion, and writing exercises, we will study elements such as narrative arc, scene-setting, and reflection. We will draft our own essays, discovering how this enduring form helps us find our voices and tell our stories with clarity.

Saturdays, April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, Synchronous Online