No matter your budget, Road Scholar’s Free Online Lectures are a great way to experience the very best of online learning!
Each lecture is 45-60 minutes long and includes a Q&A session with the instructor, allowing you to enjoy innovative learning from the comfort of your own home at no cost to you.
Long before the rise of the Inca Empire, early Peruvians attuned themselves to the natural world around them. They discovered sustainable ways of living, guided by the gods of the upper realms and the abundance offered by Mother Earth. Join historian Oscar Oviedo Velasco as he journeys into the myths and cosmologies of ancient Andean culture, offering insights into how Indigenous Peruvians once interpreted the universe. Gain a new perspective on how Andean societies engaged with their world before the Spanish conquest altered their way of life.
Cosmovision of the Andean Civilization
Santa Muerte has been called the “fastest-growing religion in the Americas.” Join religion scholar Brian Carwana for an introduction to this devotion centered on Saint Death—or the “Bony Lady”—a female figure often likened to the Grim Reaper. Her devotees in Mexico and elsewhere have grown rapidly in recent decades, much to the dismay of Catholic and Pentecostal churches. This lecture also explores the Day of the Dead, a tradition that is unrelated to Santa Muerte but also features skeletons in an unusual event that mixes mourning with festivity. Together, these practices offer insight into how death is understood, commemorated, and given meaning in Mexico and other Latin American cultures.
Santa Muerte & the Day of the Dead
Beneath the sparkling surface of the Mediterranean lies a hidden world most people never encounter — ancient coral habitats that shelter more than 1,800 species. These fragile underwater gardens took centuries to form, yet destructive bottom trawling can flatten them in a matter of minutes. Join marine biologist Anastasia Miliou of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation for a film screening followed by a live conversation about the urgent mission to protect them. The film follows a team of scientists, who have been painstakingly mapping the region's coral to build the hard scientific evidence needed to secure its future. Since 1998, the Archipelagos Institute has grown into one of the Mediterranean's most respected research and conservation institutes, welcoming more than 27,000 young people from 43 countries and inspiring a new generation of scientists to take on the enormous challenges facing our seas.
"Saving the hidden coral of the Mediterranean" film screening
Join us this Manatee Awareness Month for a program delivered from atop the 150,000-gallon manatee habitat at the new Mote Science Education Aquarium. Jason Robertshaw, certified Florida Master Naturalist and Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory, will share more than 30 years of groundbreaking manatee research, exploring how scientists use aerial surveys, drones and photo-identification to track populations, monitor migration patterns and identify critical habitats. Learn how researchers catalog individual manatees by their unique scars and markings, creating decades-long records that help shape state and federal conservation efforts. At a critical time for the species, you’ll gain insight into the threats manatees face — including seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, cold stress and human impact — and how science is guiding conservation efforts. This lecture offers a compelling look at how data and discovery come together to protect one of Florida’s most iconic animals.
Florida's Gentle Giants - Protecting Manatees above and below
More than a decade after the referendum, Brexit remains one of the most consequential political decisions in modern British history. Join linguist and historian Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he explores the UK’s long and often-uneasy relationship with the European Union, as well as the social, political and economic forces that led to the 2016 vote. This lecture examines the realities of Brexit as they exist today and considers where Britain–EU relations may be heading next, from pragmatic compromise to deeper realignment.
Brexit - A political earthquake in modern Britain
Join marine biologist and polar expedition guide Amanda Hunter for an exciting exploration of the Arctic’s most iconic predator — the polar bear. Learn how these majestic animals have adapted to thrive in one of the planet’s most extreme environments and the unique challenges they face in the changing Arctic landscape. Through Amanda’s extensive knowledge and passion for wildlife conservation, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the critical role polar bears play in the Arctic ecosystem, the threats they encounter and the ongoing efforts to protect them.
Polar Bears - Kings of the Arctic
Everyone knows the sunflowers, the swirling stars and the blazing yellow house. These iconic elements drew inspiration from Arles, a coastal city in Southern France. While Van Gogh spent his early years painting in the grey light of Holland, learning discipline among miners in Belgium and absorbing new ideas in the cafés of Paris, it was the warm light of Provence that unlocked his genius. Join art historian Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he retraces the journey that brought Van Gogh to the south of France, examining how his artistic vision developed along the way.
Van Gogh's road to Arles - A life retraced
Love meant far more to the ancient Greeks than a single emotion. Join Eleni Petroutsou in celebration of Valentine's Day as she explores the many Greek words used to describe different kinds of love, from friendship and family to romance and devotion. Along the way, discover some of the most memorable love stories in Greek mythology and gain a deeper appreciation for how the ancient Greeks understood this timeless human experience.
Where many saw only bones in the deserts of the American Southwest or everyday flowers, Georgia O’Keeffe saw the transcendent passage of time. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski to examine her iconic career paintings of landscapes, flowers and desert forms, and explore why her beloved works remain so powerful today.
Georgia O'Keeffe - Visions of the American Southwest
Join historian Oscar Oviedo Velasco for an engaging presentation that will take you above the coastal plains of southern Peru to unveil the enigmatic Nasca Lines, also known as the "Nazca Lines", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ancient and immense geoglyphs, etched into the desert, have intrigued scholars for centuries with their mysterious figures of animals, plants and geometric shapes. Oscar will share the history, theories and latest research surrounding these archaeological wonders, offering insights into their creation and purpose. Discover what these lines, visible fully only from the air, reveal about the innovative Nasca civilization and their understanding of art, astronomy and spirituality.
The Nasca Lines - Secrets of the Peruvian Desert
