About Our Lectures and Workshops

Our engaging lecture and workshop series offer entertaining learning opportunities without required readings, assignments, or tests. Participants can attend with a friend or family member and can enjoy interacting with experts and other lifelong learners through both in-person and online formats (see for yourself why participants love our fully supported online events).

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Browse our website or read this 2022 article to learn more about us. We hope to see you soon!

About Our Early Spring 2023 Programming

After a short break in programming over the Winter session, we are pleased to welcome you back with our Early Spring 2023 Session! This March and April, we are offering ten engaging lecture and gallery series hosted by some of your favourite LLeaP presenters. In addition to four fascinating online lecture series (see for yourself why participants love our fully supported online events), we are offering one in-person series on Carleton’s main campus and three in-person gallery series at the National Gallery of Canada.

Below are the details for our Early Spring 2023 session.

Parking Note: LLeaP no longer organizes parking on main campus or takes parking payments. However, our paid registrants can park in the P18 parking garage (or overflow lot P7) with special rates during their class time, by completing an online form and payment. This can only be done from home just before arriving on campus, or once on campus.


Early Spring Lecture and Workshop Series:

ONLINE SERIES :

Physics Around Us

Six Mathematical Results with Profound Impact 

 Exploring the World of Creativity

African American Music of the 1940s-1970s: Blues, R&B, Soul and Funk

IN-PERSON SERIES:

Film Music: The Sounds of Hollywood CANCELLED

The History of Disability CANCELLED

Famous Artists of the Italian Renaissance

GALLERY SERIES:

A Walk Through Canadian Art at the National Gallery (FULL, join the waitlist)

People, Places, Myths and Symbols at the National Gallery (FULL, join the waitlist)

ONLINE SERIES

Lecture Series 1 (ONLINE)

Physics Around Us

Lecturer: Dr. Andrew Robinson

Series description: Physics is an experimental science based on observation of the world around us. Familiar everyday examples will show the important principles of physics in a gentle and non-mathematical manner. Examples from biology, chemistry, engineering, and medical science will be used as illustrations. The classes will be highly interactive, with many opportunities for discussion and questions on topics of interest to those attending. An interest in science is recommended, but no scientific knowledge is required.

Note: This popular series has been offered previously as “Physics of Everyday Life”. One of the pleasures of our non-credit program is that participants can take risks with topics that they would not necessarily have tackled in their own formal education. When we have outstanding educators like Dr. Robinson (winner of four science teaching awards just since 2012), it’s the perfect opportunity to push past our qualms and learn something new.

  • Days: Mondays, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 17, 24 (no lecture on April 10)
  • Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: Online
  • Location: Zoom (This lecture series is offered via Zoom, which can be used on computers and mobile devices. We recommend you use a computer/laptop with high-speed internet. A camera and microphone will enable you to participate more fully, but they are not required. See our Support Page for details.)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)Picture of LLeaP lecturer Dr. Andrew Robinson
  • Registration: Closed

Lecturer biography: Dr. Andrew Robinson is a Contract Instructor in the Physics Department at Carleton University. He has degrees in Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry from Bristol University and Bath University. He has worked as a professional scientist in Germany and the UK, and moved to Canada in 2000. After working at the University of Saskatchewan, he moved to Ottawa in 2010. His current research interest is the teaching of Physics at the post-secondary level, and he uses innovative technology and pedagogical methods in his classes. He has won the Faculty of Science Teaching Awards in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2020.

Lecture Series 2 (ONLINE)

Six Mathematical Results with Profound Impact 

Lecturer: Dr. Kevin Cheung

Series description: In this lecture series, we look at six mathematical results that can be stated using no more than high school math yet have profound consequences or impact beyond pure mathematical interests. We will examine the mathematical content and stories behind Pythagorean Theorem, Euler’s Identity, Four-Colour Theorem, Fermat’s Last Theorem, duality theorem for linear programming, and the undecidability of the Halting Problem. We will also explore some of the far-reaching implications which have transformed the way mathematicians view their subject or led to technological advances that we now take for granted. The lectures are aimed at a general audience with a high school math background and an interest in the history of math and technology.

  • Days: Mondays, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 17, 24 (no lecture April 10)
  • Time: 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: Online
  • Location: Zoom (This lecture series is offered via Zoom, which can be used on computers and mobile devices. We recommend you use a computer/laptop with high-speed internet. A camera and microphone will enable you to participate more fully, but they are not required. See our Support page for details.)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
  • Registration: Closed

Lecturer biography: Dr. Kevin Cheung has been a faculty member of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton University since

2005. After completing his PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2003, he spent two years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellow. His current academic interests include discrete optimization, designing and developing teaching tools, and exploiting technology to help students attain mastery.

Lecture Series 3 (ONLINE)

Exploring the World of Creativity

Lecturer: Adrian Cho

Series description: Join creativity guru Adrian Cho in a multi-faceted exploration of creativity. This course will draw on Adrian’s diverse experience in a multitude of fields, stories from decades and centuries past, and the most recent global developments. The goal of this course is to help you understand creativity, inspire you to be more creative, and equip you with tools for not only surviving but thriving in an increasingly fast and unpredictable world. Some classes may include guests who will appear with Adrian either at his studio or remotely.

  • Days:  Wednesdays, March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19
  • Time: 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: Online
  • Location: Zoom (This lecture series is offered via Zoom, which can be used on computers and mobile devices. We recommend you use a computer/laptop with high-speed internet. A camera and microphone will enable you to participate more fully, but they are not required. See our Support page for details.)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
  • Registration: Closed

LLeaP Lecturer Adrian ChoLecturer biography: Adrian Cho leads a life of creativity at scale, and juggles a multitude of diverse initiatives that showcase his musical talents, software development, photography, and writing. As a musician who has been performing for over forty years, he is best known to Ottawa jazz audiences as the founder and Artistic Director of the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra, which performed fifteen seasons of sold-out concerts at the National Arts Centre.

In addition to the arts, he has decades of experience in the tech industry, combining the two to found syncspace.live, a virtual venue that allows professional musicians across the globe to perform together in real-time and broadcast their live performances to live audiences. Adrian loves to share his unique cross-disciplinary experience and perspectives. He has been teaching in Carleton University’s Learning in Retirement/Lifelong Learning program since 2011.

Lecture Series 4 (ONLINE)

African American Music of the 1940s-1970s: Blues, R&B, Soul and Funk

Lecturer: Keith McCuaig

Series description: Join LLeaP lecturer Keith McCuaig for an overview of some of the most popular musical genres from the 1940s to the 1970s. Enjoy examples of blues, rhythm & blues, soul and funk music, while exploring their history. This will include main figures, important recordings, and the musical features of each style. We will also discuss the cultural importance and impact of this music, including the overlap between genres, and the ways in which one genre influenced another. From Muddy Waters and Marvin Gaye to Aretha Franklin and James Brown, this series will be an exciting musical journey.

  • Days:  Thursdays, March  23, 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Format: Online
  • Location: Zoom (This lecture series is offered via Zoom, which can be used on computers and mobile devices. We recommend you use a computer/laptop with high-speed internet. A camera and microphone will enable you to participate more fully, but they are not required. See our Support page for details.)
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Registration: Closed

Picture of LLeaP lecturer Keith McCuaigLecturer biography: With an M.A. in Music and Culture, and over 25 years experience as a musician, Keith McCuaig is dedicated to all things music and art. Keith has taught a dozen different courses through Carleton University’s Lifelong Learning Program; is a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa; and has presented at international musicology conferences. From performing, writing, and recording, to giving music lessons, lecturing, and working with community music programs, Keith’s life and passion is music. (Photo Credit: Anita Grace)

IN-PERSON SERIES

Lecture Series 5 (IN-PERSON)

Film Music: The Sounds of Hollywood (CANCELLED)

Lecturers: Keith McCuaig

Series description: Music is a crucial component of virtually all Hollywood films. The sensation of suspense or joy or sadness that a film audience might feel is not only reflected in the music, but often dictated by the music. This course will cover the use of music in film from the silent era to the present. Film techniques and their relation to the score or soundtrack will also be discussed, as will some of the most prominent Hollywood composers. Each class will feature plenty of examples from films.

NOTE: LLeaP lecturers and participants will be required to follow whatever public health protocols are in place at Carleton University. To safeguard the well-being of other participants, workshop leaders and staff, the program strongly encourages mask-wearing, respecting other workshop members’ personal space, and staying home if feeling sick.

  • Days: Tuesdays, March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18
  • Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: In-person
  • Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Parking: All parking at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre lot will be Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), as well as first-come first-served (and open to the general public).

Picture of LLeaP lecturer Keith McCuaigLecturer biography: With an M.A. in Music and Culture, and over 25 years experience as a musician, Keith McCuaig is dedicated to all things music and art. Keith has taught a dozen different courses through Carleton University’s Lifelong Learning Program; is a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa; and has presented at international musicology conferences. From performing, writing, and recording, to giving music lessons, lecturing, and working with community music programs, Keith’s life and passion is music. (Photo Credit: Anita Grace)

Lecture Series 6 (IN-PERSON)

The History of Disability (CANCELLED)

Lecturer: Dr. Christine Chisholm

Series description: This course will introduce participants to the growing field of disability history. Together we will consider the representation and understanding of disability as it changes over time and as it is portrayed and experienced in changing cultural contexts. This course will address disability in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and, differentiating between medical and cultural interpretations, will confront the social construction(s) of disability.

NOTE: LLeaP lecturers and participants will be required to follow whatever public health protocols are in place at Carleton University. To safeguard the well-being of other participants, workshop leaders and staff, the program strongly encourages mask-wearing, respecting other workshop members’ personal space, and staying home if feeling sick.

  • Days: Thursdays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
  • Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: In-person
  • Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers CentreLLeaP Dr. Christine Chisholm
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)
  • Enrollment capacity: up to 35 participants
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Parking: All parking at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre lot will be Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), as well as first-come first-served (and open to the general public).

Lecturer biography: A historian of disability, sexuality, and medicine, Dr. Chisholm received her Ph.D. in History from Carleton University in 2019. Since then, she has taught as a Contract Instructor in the History Department, where her courses have focused on the histories of disability and sexuality.

Her academic research concentrates on the lived experiences of Canadians disabled as a result of the drug thalidomide. When not at work, Dr. Chisholm can be found playing with her young daughter or working with her horses.

Lecture Series 7 (IN-PERSON)

Famous Artists of the Italian Renaissance

Lecturer: Adriane Aboud

Series description:  This lecture series will examine the art of some of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance. The lectures will be organized chronologically so participants will come to understand and recognize, not only each artist’s personal style, but an overall view of the evolution of renaissance styles and subjects. The series will begin with early artists such as Botticelli, move through well-known figures like Michelangelo, and culminate in the works of the mannerists Bronzino and Parmigianino.

NOTE: LLeaP lecturers and participants will be required to follow whatever public health protocols are in place at Carleton University. To safeguard the well-being of other participants, workshop leaders and staff, the program strongly encourages mask-wearing, respecting other workshop members’ personal space, and staying home if feeling sick.

  • Days:Thursdays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
  • Time: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Eastern Time
  • Format: In-person
  • Location: Mackenzie Building, Carleton University, Main Campus
  • Fee: $150.00 (plus HST)Picture of LinR lecturer Adriane Aboud as Medusa
  • Enrollment capacity: up to 54 participants
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Parking: Discounted parking on Carleton’s main campus is available; see our Mackenzie Building page for details
  • Registration: Closed

Lecturer biography: Adriane Aboud received a Bachelor’s degree in History and Art History from McGill University in Montreal, and a Master’s degree in Art History from the University of Nottingham in England. She lived in Europe for two years, during which time she traveled extensively. Upon her return to Canada she briefly took a job at the National Gallery of Canada before accepting her current post as an art history teacher at CEGEP Heritage in Gatineau.

Lecture Series 8 (GALLERY)

A Walk Through Canadian Art at the National Gallery

Lecturer: Angela Marcus

Series description:

Canadian and Indigenous art at the National Gallery of Canada will guide our walk – and talk. Beginning with the paintings and artifacts of New France, we will survey a variety of cultural and artistic themes and see evolution through artistic struggles as Canada came into its own as a country and aimed for modernity. Historic works pave the way to early modern art. The Group of Seven open the door to abstraction, and late twentieth century cultural activities open spaces for Indigenous artists to tell their stories with vigour and vivacity. We will visit works by well known artists and those who had strong roles to play in cross-country activism in the present period.

NOTE: All gallery entrances are open again. Gallery entrance fees are required for non-members (note that buying a membership is more economical than paying each week). Participants should arrive early to arrange parking (not included in the registration fee), put items in the free Coat Check room, and purchase tickets or memberships from the box office at the gallery’s main entrance. Folding stools are available in the Great Hall. If purchasing a gallery membership, it is recommended to do so online before the LLeaP series begins.

NOTE: LLeaP lecturers and participants will be required to follow the public health protocols in place at the Gallery during the series. To safeguard the well-being of other participants, workshop leaders and staff, the program strongly encourages mask-wearing, respecting other workshop members’ personal space, and staying home if feeling sick.

Lecturer biography: Angela Marcus (BA Hons/78 MA/93) has taught in Art History and Art Appreciation for over two decades. She has taught for several years for the Lifelong Learning (formerly Learning in Retirement) Program. She has been an independent researcher, art writer, and curator.

Lecture Series 9 & 10 (GALLERY)

People, Places, Myths and Symbols: Viewing Art at the National Gallery

Lecturer: Maria Martin

Series description: This small-group series led by LLeaP lecturer Maria Martin will help you to develop your knowledge, appreciation and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Each week you will gather together at the National Gallery of Canada to view artworks from the collection, with a light-hearted approach. There will be a different theme every week, including landscape art, portraiture, representations of history and historical figures, still-lives and symbolism, abstract and contemporary art. Lectures and discussions will take place in front of selected works in the Gallery’s collection.

NOTE: All gallery entrances are open again. Gallery entrance fees are required for non-members (note that buying a membership is more economical than paying each week). Participants should arrive early to arrange parking (not included in the registration fee), put items in the free Coat Check room, and purchase tickets or memberships from the box office at the gallery’s main entrance. Folding stools are available in the Great Hall. If purchasing a gallery membership, it is recommended to do so online before the LLeaP series begins.

NOTE: LLeaP lecturers and participants will be required to follow the public health protocols in place at the Gallery during the series. To safeguard the well-being of other participants, workshop leaders and staff, the program strongly encourages mask-wearing, respecting other workshop members’ personal space, and staying home if feeling sick.

  • Days: Fridays, March 17, 24, 31, April 14, 21, 28
  • Time: TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
    • Morning: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time
    • Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Format: In-person
  • Location: National Gallery of Canada
  • Fee: $182 (plus HST)
  • Lecture Series Outline
  • Enrollment capacity: up to 17 participants
  • Parking: Paid parking at the Gallery (not included)
  • Morning Registration: Closed
  • Afternoon Registration: Closed

Lecturer biography: Maria Martin has studied and worked in the Arts for many years. She holds a Master’s Degree in the History of Art from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Carleton University. Maria has recently retired as a Manager with the federal government. She previously worked at the Canada Council for the Arts as an Art Consultant at the Council’s Art Bank, and as an Education Officer and Guide at the National Gallery of Canada.