Friday Morning Continuing Education announces Winter Series 2021

Friday Morning Continuing Education at University of Houston-Clear Lake has announced its Winter 2021 Series of virtual events, including talks on Amazon ecosystems, gravitational physics, social news feeds, and much more. FMCE offers presentations and discussions about unique and engaging topics each week, open to anyone who wishes to participate and learn.

The following is an overview of the topics to be discussed in the series.

• Friday, Jan. 29, 9:30 a.m.: "The Quiet Arms Race: Amazon Plants and their Predators." The discussion explores how plants survive in the Amazon rain forest, given that so many plant-eating species exist there. Find out how Amazon plants have adapted to stay a step ahead of their many predators.
• Friday, Feb. 5, 9:30 a.m.: "Discovering the Elements of Art." Learn with Art School for Children instructor Jennifer Lehnert about lines, shapes, and colors — there's more than meets the eye. Bring some paper, pencil, sharpie marker, washable markers, and maybe some paints and brushes as well as your creativity.
• Friday, Feb. 12, 9:30 a.m.: "A Primer in Gravitational Physics 101." Learn about how the universe began, how we know what to think about the history of the universe, and how we can test our theories. Learn the fundamentals of conventional astronomy, Einstein's theory of relativity, and how computers and supercomputers can answer our questions. This presentation is for everyone, including those with no background in physics, science or astronomy.
• Friday, Feb. 19, 9:30 a.m.: "Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs, the Cradle of Civilization." Egypt is much more than a tourist attraction, known for its ancient tombs and temples. Turbulent politics, complex history and diverse geography make up the land once ruled by the pharaohs. Join us to learn about ancient and modern-day Egypt and experience the culture of this exotic land through the stories of a native Egyptian.
• Friday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m.: "Fake News, Deep Fakes and Pesky Algorithms!" What do you need to know about the troubles lurking in social media? How can you spot them on your news feeds and what protections are there? Learn more in this discussion.
• Friday, March 5, 9:30 a.m.: "Ostentatious Wealth in the Age of Poverty and Hunger." This course will be a logical continuation of Prof. Bill Powers' wrap-up from November. If you didn't make that class, no worries! A brief summary will be provided, and he'll offer his insights of the news through a different lens. Join us for this dynamic discussion.

To learn more about Friday Morning Continuing Education and to register for classes, go online.