Winter/Spring 2021 OLLI @ MSU Community Events
The Belgrade Community Library is thrilled to host a free and open to the public virtual (via Zoom) events in partnership with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State University (formerly Wonderlust).
These programs are made free and open to the public thanks to generous sponsorship by Kenyon Noble Lumber and Hardware.
Registration is required for these events. There are links below for registration for each event, but once you’ve created an account you can register for all three at the same time. You will be asked to create an account if you do not have one already, but there is no charge for this event and it is open to the general community. While you’re there, please browse through the other great OLLI @ MSU offerings and consider joining them for more events as a member (a cost of $45 per year).
If you have questions about these events please call the library at 406-388-4346 and ask for Sarah or email screech@mtlib.org. If you have questions about OLLI @ MSU in general or need help registering for these free events, please call them directly at 406-994-6550.
Event Information and Descriptions
January 21 from 6:00-7:30PM Dr. Michelle Flenniken presenting “What’s Killing the Bees? Impact of Pathogens and More on Honey Bees”
Michelle Flenniken, a microbiologist, and co-director of MSU’s Pollinator Health Center, will lead this conversation about pathogens and other factors impacting honey bee colony health and the importance of basic and applied science to address this important global challenge. Honey bees are the primary insect pollinators of U.S. crops and their work is valued at approximately $17 billion annually. Unfortunately, for the past 10 years, honey bee colony losses have approached 30 percent annually. This event will NOT be recorded, so please plan on attending live.
April 15 from 6:00-7:30PM Kelly Lewis presenting “Animal Allies: The History of Animals in Espionage” Register for this event.
In this talk, MSU alumna Kelly Lewis will introduce participants to the stories of espionage’s most eminent animals and the human masterminds behind them. For decades, furry, aquatic and flying animal spies have been employed in some of the world’s wildest espionage initiatives, from undersea defense and surveillance to cipher smuggling and anti-drone reconnaissance.
April 29 from 6:00-7:30PM Dr. Sara Rushing presenting “The Patient as Citizen: Health Care, Politics and Autonomy” Register for this event.
In this talk, Sara Rushing, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at MSU, will explore the concepts of freedom and compliance in the context of health care and medicine. In mainstream American medicine, patient autonomy is a strong value, often described as a commitment to choice and control. In reality, our ability to will and direct our own treatment is often deeply constrained. When we extend beyond the context of illness and look at public health initiatives such as vaccination programs, our notions of freedom become even more complex. Rushing will examine our interdependence with others and our reliance on expert knowledge to make decisions about our lives.
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