As summer nears, visions of beaches, the long Memorial Day weekend, July 4th cookouts, and vacations quickly follow, with appropriate health and safety guidelines, of course. While this summer will certainly not be “normal,” there is hope that it will be closer than the last, and with it, the opportunity in the coming months to rest, relax and recharge. To be certain, we have all earned that. Self-care looks different for us all, but if challenging yourself, extending your vision of the world and learning something new excites you, then we have exciting news.
This year, for the first time in Community Learning & Engagement history, we are offering a Summer Session featuring a selection of pre-recorded, on-demand courses. Whether you are interested in exploring our nation’s national parks, broadening your understanding of theatre or classical music, or sampling multiple topics in one of our Medley series, our Summer Session will provide mental stimulation and expand your horizons.
The Summer Session courses will be available for registration May 20th and viewable June 1- August 13. Each course is delivered online and on demand, meaning whatever your summer entails, you will be able to access your courses anywhere and anytime. From poolside learning to lazy Sunday couch courses, you can broaden your mind as it suits you.
Summer Session Courses
American Sounds: Great Symphonic Music of North and South America
Carlos Andrés Botero, M.M.
Join conductor Carlos Andrés Botero to discover how North and South American symphonic traditions emerged to create not one but many uniquely American sounds.
Broadway Pulitzer Prize Winners
Debra Dickinson, M.A.
Celebrate 10 Pulitzer prize-winning musicals with former professional actress, singer and director Debra Dickinson as your guide.
How Classical Music Is Created: The Composer’s Palette
Carlos Andrés Botero, M.M.
Explore the creation of classical music, with insights from leading contemporary classical composers and musicians as well as historical accounts of great masters.
Midweek Medley Spring 2021 Series
Debra Dickinson, M.A.; Cin-Ty Lee, Ph.D.; Jim Parsons, M.A.; Luis Duno-Gottberg, Ph.D.; Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Ph.D.; Diane Wolfthal, Ph.D.
Rice University faculty and other experts provide insights on topics ranging from Rembrandt to the Galápagos Islands and from Houston history to new archaeological findings about Stonehenge, with a different subject for each lecture.
Midweek Medley Fall 2020 Series
David Alexander OBE, Ph.D.; Lisa Balabanlilar, Ph.D.; Carlos Andrés Botero, M.M.; Debra Dickinson, M.A.; Scott Solomon, Ph.D.; Julia Wellner, Ph.D.
Rice University faculty and other experts provide insights on topics ranging from the evolution of the symphony to space exploration in the 21st century, with a different subject for each lecture.
The Nature and Geology of U.S. National Parks: From Crater Lake to the Everglades
Cin-Ty Lee, Ph.D.
Geologist Cin-Ty Lee leads a virtual tour of five great U.S. national parks: the Everglades, Carlsbad Caverns, Denali National Park and Preserve, Great Smoky Mountains and Crater Lake.
The Nature and Geology of U.S. National Parks: From Glacier to the Grand Canyon
Cin-Ty Lee, Ph.D.
Geologist Cin-Ty Lee leads an exciting virtual tour of seven great U.S. national parks: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Yellowstone and Big Bend.
Whatever your summer plans entail, may you have the opportunity to invest in yourself, and if there is room on the itinerary, we hope that you will take part in Community Learning & Engagement Summer Sessions!