Fifty and Better Fall Lecture Series

Salmon: A Changing Fish, A Changing Future with Sharon Boorstin
Monday, November 16, 1-3pm (PT), Online via Zoom

As one of the most popular finned fish consumed in the U.S., salmon is nutritious and delicious. In this course, we explore the history of the Pacific salmon and why today’s farmed salmon isn’t the same fish that once swam up rivers from California to Alaska to spawn. We learn how to shop for the healthiest and safest salmon available, and learn what commercial fisheries and environmental groups are doing to ensure the future of salmon as a food source. Join Sharon Boorstin, whose food-writing career was inspired by her father, a leader in the canned-salmon industry in Seattle, Washington. 

The November Elections: What Just Happened? Understanding the 2026 Midterms and What They Mean for the Nation with Tim Allison
Tuesday, November 17 from 1-3pm, Online via Zoom

It seems that every election this decade has been called “The most important election of our lifetime”. While it is not clear that the 2026 Midterm elections matter more than a Presidential year election, the results of this election will determine the direction of the nation for the next two years. This election undoubtedly is incredibly consequential. It is a referendum on the Trump administration and will determine whether there are increased safeguards or a green light to continue the actions and policies of the past two years. In this lecture, we will do an overview of the 2026 election results (the results of most of the important races will have been finalized). We will assess the election outcomes from races across the country from US Senate to US House to Governor races, and also interesting propositions and notable races.

The Essentials of Global Heating and the Birth of a 'Godzilla' El Niño with Dr. Ian Faloona
Monday, November 23 from 1-3pm, Online via Zoom

As we careen into the Anthropocene, a new geologic era we have entered where the impacts of human civilizations have grown to dominate the controls on the Earths' climate, the consequences of our inaction are becoming daily observations. The warmest year on record in the modern era was 2024 while experiencing a strong El Niño, which is known to influence global temperatures positively (by about 0.1 - 0.2 °C on average.) This year, 2026, is on record to become the warmest yet again with the aid of a rising 'Godzilla' El Niño. We will explore the physical details of how we are rapidly warming our planet, how this year's record El Niño is developing, and how its abnormal strength is itself likely human-driven. 

Montmartre Through the Artist’s Eye: Toulouse-Lautrec and the Birth of Bohemian Paris with Katherine Zoraster
Wednesday, December 2 from 10am-12pm, In-Person and Online

Alternatively legendary and tragic, the intriguing life and career of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is very much tied to and associated with the area of Montmartre in Paris. Well-known and recognized within the area from the mid-1880s on, he was a documenter and advertiser for the hill-top region of windmills and nightclubs. Montmartre itself has its own long history and this lecture will not only explore Toulouse-Lautrec's representation of the area, but also look at why and how artists were drawn to the region in the first place.  

Timeless Beauty, Modern Vision: Spanish Colonial Revival from Mission Origins to Jeff Shelton with Eleanor Schrader
Thursday, December 3, 1:30-3:30pm, Online via Zoom

Spanish Colonial Revival style, popular mainly in the 1910s through the early 1930s, incorporates many cultural roots within its adobe-colored walls, red terra cotta roofs, turquoise shutters and mullions, and ceramic tile details.  Popularized by a romanticized version of California’s history, the style traces its roots from the mission era, where Spanish padres brought knowledge of their Baroque cathedrals and Andalusian farmhouses to be interpreted by the local Native American and Mexican craftsmen.  The style was also influenced by Islamic design, prevalent in Spanish design under Moorish rule, as well as Bertram Goodhue’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition held in San Diego, and Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona, a sentimental portrayal of Mexican life in Southern California.  The course will include discussion of contemporary practitioners of the style, including the work of Santa Barbara architect Jeff Shelton.

More Than "Jewish Christmas": The Hidden History and Traditions of Hanukkah (Two Parts) with Dr. Jason Hensley
Mondays, December 7 & 14 from 1-3pm, In-Person and Online

Why potato pancakes and jelly donuts? Why eight candles? And what is Hanukkah actually celebrating? While often viewed simply as a winter holiday, Hanukkah carries a complex history and rich tradition. Across this two-part lecture series, we’ll uncover the origins of the holiday, trace how its most famous customs came to be, and explore how the ancient events behind Hanukkah helped shape the modern world.

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