Lunch & Learn Lectures
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
If you're 50 or better you are invited!
Lunch and Learn lectures are wonderful opportunities to experience a sampling of what the Osher program offers, firsthand and for FREE! This special lecture series is open to the general public, as part of our service to the community.
All six lectures will be held live via Zoom Webinar each term, fall, winter, and spring (no summer lectures). Most lectures are recorded (with the speaker's permission) and kept in our archives for re-watching or later viewing after the live session ends.
We also host an in-person Watch Party each term at our building at 540 Arapeen Drive, broadcasting the six Zoom sessions live, from 12 PM to 1 PM for those who would like the option to gather in person and watch the Zoom Event together.
Grab your brown bag lunch, invite a friend, and join us—online or in person at the Watch Party—to enjoy these informative, interesting, engaging and free lectures.
Our huge thanks to longtime Osher volunteer Sandy Clark, who donates her time and energy to creating these sessions each term for fellow Osher members. Thank you, Sandy!
Did you miss a lecture or hope to watch one again? View our archives.
Fall 2026 Lunch and Learn Lecture Series
Master Your Landscape: A Strategic Guide to Design and Curb Appeal
September 23, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Bruce Maw, Landscape Architect
Bruce Maw will offer a professional, step-by-step approach to custom landscape design. This presentation provides homeowners with the technical and creative tools necessary to build a cohesive master layout—whether you are starting from a blank slate or renovating an existing yard to maximize curb appeal. Highlights will include: Foundation and Planning: Learn to develop a precise plot plan and conduct a comprehensive site analysis to understand your environment. Design & Architecture: Explore diverse architectural themes and strategic plant combinations that reflect your unique lifestyle. Technical Execution: Master the fundamentals of soil preparation, proper planting techniques, and long-term pruning practices. Market Value & Trends: Stay ahead with insights into current landscaping trends that offer the highest return on investment. The "Best in Show" Strategy: Bruce will reveal the top three criteria for creating a memorable, desirable, and unified landscape that sets your home apart from the rest of the neighborhood. Join us to strategically improve and beautify your personal environments, one yard at a time.
The Biology of Skinwalker Ranch
September 30, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Ben Woodruff, Biologist, Hutchings Museum
This presentation will cover the biological findings that have been observed on Skinwalker Ranch in Uintah County, Utah over the past seven years. Ben Woodruff has been the biologist there during this timeframe, appointed by owner Brandon Fugal. Ben’s work has led to profound findings that challenge our understanding of how the universe operates. The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch is one of the highest-rated and most commercially successful series on The History Channel. The reality docuseries investigating paranormal activity regularly attracts between 900,000 to over 1.5 million live viewers per episode and has run for seven seasons.
Utah's Changing Demographics
October 7, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Mallory Bateman, Director of Demographic Research, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Utah has grown and changed since the 1800s. The population in our state is shifting. But what do we look like today and what does the future of Utah's population growth look like? This presentation will provide an overview of demographic change in the state. We will look at what might be down the road in terms of what new cities might grow and what areas may lose population.
Data Centers in Utah: What's Being Proposed and What Communities Can Do
October 14, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Deeda Seed, GSL Activist & Senior Campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity
Utah is becoming a data center hub — and the Great Salt Lake basin is ground zero. From Utah County, to the Tooele Valley, to Box Elder County, a wave of data centers and the gas plants built to power them are being proposed. If built, they will consume scarce water resources, create pollution, and, in many cases, divert tax dollars, often with little transparency or local oversight. This talk breaks down how these projects threaten Great Salt Lake's wetlands, our communities, our water supply, and iconic bird populations — and outlines what we can do to stop the harm.
New Advances in Pharmaceuticals – Blocking Cancer’s Communication Network: A New Approach to Treat Advanced Ovarian Cancer
October 21, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Dr. Farzana Alam, Research Assistant Professor in Pharmacology and Toxicology at The University of Utah
Cancer cells constantly send messages to nearby cells that encourage tumor growth and spread. These messages are delivered in tiny particles called exosomes. New research at The University of Utah has discovered that a protein called Doppel plays an important role in this communication system in ovarian cancer. By targeting Doppel, we hope to interrupt these harmful signals, reduce cancer spread, decrease abdominal fluid buildup, and improve the effectiveness of future therapies.
Amplifying Women's Voices
October 28, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Sharon Spaulding, Author of “Women Make History”
Book banning and censorship. The erosion of women's rights and stories. In a time of deletion, how do we rewrite the narrative, reclaim our histories and our role models, and create community towards a future of belonging and inclusion? Join us in a lively discussion about groundbreaking women and how looking to the past can illuminate the path forward.
Bernard Osher set up the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to be member-led and volunteer-driven. We would appreciate any suggestions for future topics of interest to you for Lunch and Learn Lectures. We especially appreciate recommendations of speakers who could present topics for us in future terms. Thank you for your participation and support!
