Welcome to the website for the OLLI course, Big Bang, Then What? (BBTW), offered by Gale Rhodes in spring term, the weeks of March 15 through May 7, 2021.
Reminder
Meeting times are 9:30 AM ED(for daylight)T. Daylight savings time begins 14 March, Sunday morning at 2 AM. Set your clocks forward one hour to avoid missing the first hour of class on Monday.
Big History
The term “recorded history” refers to history written in human language. But the rest of history since the Big Bang — the other 99.99996 % that some call “big history” — is also recorded. It is written in electromagnetic radiation, chemical elements and their isotopes, geological strata and fossils, interstellar molecules, stars and their planets, galaxies and their clusters. Let’s explore the aftermath of the Big Bang, by the scientific method of deciphering big history as written in Nature, from the simplest entities of matter and energy to their most complex forms: you and me and other life. No science background required. Our resources: videos on YouTube. Format: weekly 2-hour Zoom sessions of watch and discuss.
To repeat: Background in science is not a requirement for this course; quite the contrary, it is a goal of this course. I am on the lookout in particular to provide basic science background that will enhance your understanding of the videos and other course materials. No question of yours is too basic to be worthy of class attention.
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Gale Rhodes
Gale Rhodes has taught college chemistry, biochemistry, structural biology, interdisciplinary courses (“Science and …”), and OLLI courses. Publications include biochemical research, interdisciplinary education, natural history, and how to scientists “see” molecular structures. At his web site—One Culture —he connects science with other knowledge. Click HERE for a brief autobiography.
To contact Gale Rhodes, see Contact Me at One Culture: Science and the Humanities.
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Use the form below to submit questions or comments you would like us to discuss in upcoming classes. I will post your submissions (but not your name) for all to see and think about at Your Questions ... , see the link in the right-hand column of all pages at Big Bang, Then What? Also use the form to make suggestions about any aspect of the course.
The form is on all pages of Big Bang, Then What?. It's the same form on every page, so when you use the form on any page, I'll get your question, comment, or suggestion. Please include the name of the episode or resource that prompted your contribution, and I will post it with other contributions concerning the same episode page.
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And now, begin this course by looking to the menu in the right-hand column, and clicking "Episode 1, Introduction and Big Bang".
