Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning launches free video lecture series

May 4, 2020

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Association for Lifelong Learning is introducing a free online lecture series featuring faculty members and community experts as a way to connect people during a time of physical distancing.

The Lifelong Learning at Home series will feature weekly videos about topics including the archaeology of wine in the Roman world, evolutionary biology, the morality of appreciating art by infamous artists, and Victorian-era murder mysteries.

“We understand these times are challenging for everyone and our hope is to keep our lifelong learning community connected off-campus until we can bring everyone together in-person once again,” says Lindsay Tayler, program coordinator for the Office of Professional Development at Laurier.

The Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning (LALL) provides non-credit courses for members of the public. There are no assignments or exams as part of the courses. Laurier professors and community experts teach the multi-week courses about topics that span the arts, music, science and business. LALL courses originally scheduled for spring were cancelled as part of Laurier’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scott Gallimore, associate professor in the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies and winner of an Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Award for Excellence in Teaching, has offered in-person LALL courses for the past five years. Gallimore is looking forward to continuing to teach in a virtual setting.

“When I was asked about the online lecture series I jumped at the opportunity to engage with the LALL community despite the isolation we are all facing,” says Gallimore. “Everyone who is involved with LALL has an amazing passion for learning and this is an excellent way to keep that going."

Each lecture is about one hour in length and will have a dedicated web page including the pre-recorded video, an instructor biography, lecture details and additional resources related to the topic.

Gallimore’s lecture is the first in the series, which launches on Tuesday, May 12 at noon. Videos will be posted weekly on Tuesdays at noon until the series concludes on June 30.

The first four lectures in the series include:

• May 12: So Let us Be Merry. Wine is Life: An Archaeology of Wine in the Roman World, Scott Gallimore
• May 19: An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology, Marcia Chaudet
• May 26: Good Art. Bad Artists: Admiring the Work of Artists We Despise, James Skidmore
• June 2: Passion, Poison and Betrayal: Murder at the Priory, Amy Milne-Smith

Future lecture topics will be posted closer to the date of their release.

Lifelong Learning at Home is open to everyone and accessible online at wlu.ca/lall. Questions about Lifelong Learning at Home or the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning can be directed to lall@wlu.ca.