Great Science Stories

Dates: April 9 - May 14, 2026
Meets: Th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Location: Osher Online
Cost:  $75.00

There are still openings remaining at this time.

Date Day Time
04/09/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
04/16/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
04/23/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
04/30/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
05/07/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM
05/14/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2025-2026 OLLI at MSU Membership

Description

This program will not be recorded.

Science is full of surprises. Dyes, accidentally discovered, launched the modern pharmaceutical industry. A failed experiment opened the door to new physics. A geologist studying Earth's age took on the oil companies to ban leaded gasoline. These stories remind us that discoveries are never just dry facts. They are moments of creativity, struggle and chance, with consequences that ripple far beyond the laboratory. In this course, we will explore the human side of science, situating breakthroughs in the context of their times and tracing how they reshaped both knowledge and society. Along the way, we will tour centuries of discovery across biology, chemistry, physics and more, asking not just what was found, but how it was found, and why it still matters today.

About the Osher Online Program

Osher Online programs are provided to OLLI at MSU from the Osher National Resource Center at Northwestern University. Experience shared online presentations with OLLI members from coast to coast! As part of the Osher Online program, OLLI at MSU members will enjoy national speakers and interact with fellow OLLI members nationwide.

Scholarship

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Meet the Instructor

Fee:  $75.00

Osher Online

This is a real-time (live) online class that meets at the specified day(s)/time(s) listed.

Johnnie Hendrickson

Dr. Johnnie Hendrickson is a teaching professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and is the author of the textbook "Chemistry in the World." His academic work focuses on science communication and the reciprocal relationship between science and society.
Date Day Time Location
04/09/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
04/16/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
04/23/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
04/30/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
05/07/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online
05/14/2026Thursday1 PM to 2:30 PM Osher Online