POL SCI 747

Osher (50+). This current events lecture series features a different speaker each week.  Guest speakers are experts in their field who provide a one-hour lecture followed by a thirty-minute Q&A.

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Typically Available

Fall

Winter

Spring

Duration

As few as 8 weeks

Units

0.0

Current Formats

Hybrid

Cost

Starting at $120.00

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About This Course

Pulled from today’s headlines, this exclusive speaker series offers an in-depth analysis of significant contemporary issues. Each week, an expert from the political, social, technological, or economic spectrum provides a 1-hour lecture focused on a major global, national, or local issue. Afterwards, students participate in a 30-minute Q&A session with the speaker. A list of speakers for this term will be available online approximately one month before the course begins. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. Speakers will be in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

Series Speakers & Topics

Moderator: James Aldinger

DATE			LECTURE
Sep. 30			The Human Right to Science Cesare P.R. Romano, LLM, PhD Professor of Law W. Joseph Ford Fellow, Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Oct. 7			Artificial Intelligence and the News Media Ralph Begleiter, M.S., Journalism, Columbia University Former CNN world affairs correspondent (1981–1999), Founding director of UD’s Center for Political Communication
Oct. 14			Borders and Belonging: Understanding Current Immigration Controversies Hiroshi Motomura, JD Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law; Faculty Co-Director, Center for Immigration Law and Policy
Oct. 21			Requiem for the Roberts Court Bill Blum, JD Los Angeles lawyer and a former State of California Administrative Law Judge
Oct. 28			Tackling Challenges of a Drier, Hotter, More Fire-Prone Future Rong Fu, PhD Director, Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, UCLA
Nov. 4			Update on California’s Home Insurance Market Emily Rogan Senior Program Officer, United Policyholders
Nov. 18			From Stream to Story: How the Brain Carves Memories from Experiences David Clewett, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology, UCLA
Nov. 25			The Counter-Playbook: Resisting the Populist Assault on Separation of Powers Stephen Gardbaum, PhD, JD Stephen Yeazell Endowed Chair in Law at UCLA School of Law

Winter 2026 Schedule

Date

Details

Format

January 6 - February 24

Tuesday 10:30AM - 12:00PM PT

Instructor:

Jim Aldinger

REG#

405426

Fee:

$120.00

Hybrid

UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood

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Notes

Hybrid course: combination of in-person and live-online.

Course fee is $120 for both OLLI Basic and Plus members. Enrollment limited; enrollment prior to the first class required. Visitors not permitted.

You must be at least 50 years old and a current member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UCLA to enroll in this course. If your membership has expired or if you wish to become a new member, please proceed with enrolling in courses and you will be automatically prompted to add a membership during checkout.

If you participate remotely, please download a free version of Zoom at https://zoom.us/ to participate in this course.

Deadline

Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026

Schedule

Type

Date

Time

Location

Lecture

Tue Jan 6, 2026

10:30AM PT - 12:00PM PT