Bob Griffith, who spent 31 years in radio broadcasting and management in Southern California, will present “Rock Music and American Generations.” It looks at the four decades of rock music and its effects on the G.I, Silent, Boomer, Gen X and Millennial generations as an influential social force in America.

Courtesy of Judith Reynolds

×

Bob Griffith, who spent 31 years in radio broadcasting and management in Southern California, will present “Rock Music and American Generations.” It looks at the four decades of rock music and its effects on the G.I, Silent, Boomer, Gen X and Millennial generations as an influential social force in America.

Courtesy of Judith Reynolds

A little history, a lot of science and rock ’n’ roll. That’s the lineup for the winter series of free lectures offered through Life Long Learning at Fort Lewis College.

Starting with a program on sustainability, a panel discussion will describe the work of FLC’s Engineers Without Borders, the Shanta Foundation and Ridgeway’s dZi Foundation. Speakers include Don May, Mike Karpfen and Jim Nowak who will describe what each organization does to help communities in Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

On the lighter side but with a serious twist, Bob Griffith will discuss the evolution and legacy of rock music the following Thursday, Jan. 30. A former radio broadcaster and manager from Los Angeles, Griffith always delivers a high-energy program and will demonstrate how rock music as a social force helped change American society.

The remaining nine lectures focus on the science of vaccines by David Blake, professor of biology at FLC (Feb. 6); the power of masks by FLC anthropology professor Kathleen Fine-Dare (Feb. 13); the pursuit of the South Pole in our era by mining geologist and explosives engineer John Wright (Feb. 20); the myths and misinformation about wolves by Paula Watson, director of WolfWood (Feb. 27); the power of nonviolence by peace scholar David Cortwright (March 6); the infamous Ludlow Massace and its role in American industrial relations by retired labor-relations attorney Rory Mullett (March 13); the power of hypnosis by practitioner Barb Horn (March 20); the search for reasons supporting belief systems by FLC philosophy professor Dugald Owen (April 3); and a discussion of how our brains are altered throughout our lifespan by retired medical school professor Ben Kater (April 10).

The Life Long Learning Lecture Series is a flagship program sponsored by the Professional Associates of FLC, an organization of volunteers who support the college and enhance town-gown interaction. All lectures are free.

jreynolds@durangoherald.com.