Beginning with an unusual presentation called “The Art of Conducting,” the Life Long Learning lecture series at Fort Lewis College will launch its 19th year of free programs Thursday.

Co-sponsored by the Office of the President and a volunteer organization known as the Professional Associates, the series features FLC professors, community experts and, on occasion, out-of-town speakers. The goal is to have a community dialogue about topics of current interest.

The talks begin at 7 p.m. Thursdays, mostly in Room 130 in Noble Hall. All are free, open to the public and there’s plenty of free parking.

Thomas Heuser, music director of the San Juan Symphony, will give the opening program. It is the only one held in a location different from Noble Hall. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Heuser will explore the art of conducting, in Roshong Recital Hall within the Jones Building. He will share personal and professional experiences. He’ll also delve into the history of the modern maestro.

The series then continues in Noble Hall:

Jan. 24, Callie Colle, assistant professor of analytical chemistry, will conduct an interactive program to demonstrate how molecules in outer space contribute to the origin of life on Earth.Jan. 31: Katherine Burgess will discuss ethics in the 21st century and try to reach some agreement about basic principles of behavior.Feb. 7: Two Durangoans who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 73 and 64, Missy Rodey and Debby Malcolm, will intertwine their stories about climbing Africa’s highest peak when past one’s peak.Feb. 14: Retired stockbroker and railroad buff Duane Danielson will tell the unusual story of how early refrigeration cars supplied Durango’s grocery stores.Feb. 21: Historian Mike Todt will ask: When and how did we become so divided, and can we ever heal? Todt will look at the historical roots of current divisiveness plus short- and long-term consequences.Feb. 28: Tom Bartels will discuss bio-intensive methods for growing food in living soil plus new research on how regenerative agriculture can contribute to climate solutions.March 7: No presentation because of FLC spring break.March 14: Phyllis Wise, the inaugural president of the Colorado Longitudinal Study travels to Durango to discuss this massive study that will expand our understanding of both rare and common diseases.March 21: Steven Elias, dean of FLC’s School of Business Administration, will discuss how psychology informs management, leadership and human resources in the work world.March 28: James Mischke, retired psychotherapist, Vietnam veteran and professor emeritus at Diné College, will review the Vietnam War and how it affected our personal and national experience.April 4: Michael Grubb will discuss the strange and unique microscopic world of quantum mechanics and relate it to the world of music. Grubb teaches in the Chemistry Department at FLC.April 11: Donald Bruning will survey national and international treaties that help protect wildlife. Bruning is an international conservation expert and will present: “The Big Picture: Wildlife Protection Laws and Regulations.”April 18: H.D. Grover has been studying the worldwide affects of nuclear war for decades and will address how our understanding has evolved and influences current policies on nuclear weapons. If you want to be put on a Lifelong Learning email list, send your name to ragrossman@fortlewis.edu. For more general information, call the FLC Office of the President at 247-7401 or visit www.fortlewis.edu/professionalassociates.com