Ringling College to Present 'Big History: 13.8 Billion Years of It'

From Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy: Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy (RCLLA) announces its spring 2017 Einstein’s Circle “Big History: 13.8 Billion Years of It!” with moderator Jeff Rodgers, provost and COO of the South Florida Museum and director of the Bishop Planetarium. The forum is Wednesday, March 22, 3-4:30 p.m., in the auditorium at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota.

Cost is $6 general admission; $5 for RCLLA paid members. Registration is recommended and can be done online at www.rclla.org or by calling 941-309-5111. Tickets are transferrable, but are not refundable after purchase. For additional information on Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy, visit www.rclla.org or call 941-309-5111.

In “Big History: 13.8 Billion Years of It,” Jeff Rodgers examines human history in the context of a much larger story—the history of the universe. Beginning with major thresholds that brought about the changes that propelled us toward our present condition, Rodgers looks at the Big Bang, the formation of stars, the creation of elements, the building of solar systems, and the origin and evolution of life. He also explores the distinctive adaptations that allowed humans to develop the tools, complex forms of communication, agriculture, and the industrial revolutions that led to our current condition.

Before joining the South Florida Museum in 2004, Rodgers spent nine years at the American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Since then, his lectures, classes, “Stelliferous Live” talks, and other community intergalactic explorations have earned him recognition as “Southwest Florida’s own Neil deGrasse Tyson.”

According to Bev Harms, producer of Einstein’s Circle, these open forums moderated by knowledgeable and noted experts, provide participants with an opportunity to engage in open and thoughtful discussion of a wide variety of topical matters. “If it’s relevant, timely and interesting there’s a good chance we’ll be talking about it at Einstein’s Circle,” says Harms.

Image via Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy