The Private Space Industry Revolution Plus 20 More Programs in September

Smithsonian Associates offers innovative, online and in-person programming that promotes learning, enrichment and creativity for people of all ages. Hundreds of seminars, studio arts classes and study tours are offered annually. To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

Wednesday, September 7

Madame President: What Will It Take? With Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali: NBC News correspondent Ali Vitali witnessed a 2020 presidential election in which highly qualified and experienced women candidates again dealt with a different level of scrutiny than their male counterparts. In conversation with Andrea Mitchell, NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports," Vitali analyzes why it’s so hard for a woman to be taken seriously as a presidential contender, what will it take for men and women to be held to the same standard—and what happens next. This program will be held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center and online. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

Spice 101: Cumin: Take a gastronomical journey to explore one of the world's most widely used and oldest spices, cumin. Christine Rai discusses its origins and history, flavor profile and composition and presence in global cuisines, and offers tips for using this internationally beloved spice in your own kitchen. 7 p.m. ET $25-$30

 

Friday, September 9

Nikola Tesla: An Inventor Re-invents Military Technology: In the 21st century, the life and accomplishments of inventor, engineer and futurist Nikola Tesla have risen from almost total obscurity to topics of fresh interest. Author Marc J. Seifer, one of the world’s leading Tesla experts, surveys his most significant discoveries that continue to influence today's military technology and diplomatic strategies. 12 p.m. ET $20-$25

The Private Space Industry Revolution: We are living through a revolution in the private space industry, but with the potential for increased light pollution, satellite collisions and the formation of “mega-constellations” of satellites in Earth’s orbit, do the pros outweigh the cons of this explosive growth? Leading astronomers and pioneers in the private space industry weigh in on the future in a fascinating four-part series presented in cooperation with George Mason University Observatory. Additional sessions for this program are held September 16, 23 and 30. 6:45 p.m. ET $25

Saturday, September 10

Medieval England's Art and Archaeology: Historian Cheryl White examines four significant monuments of art and archaeology of medieval England—the Sutton Hoo ship burial, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Bayeux Tapestry and Canterbury Cathedral—each of which points to a specific turning point in the historical narrative of the 7th through 14th centuries. Enrolled participants in the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program earn one credit. 9:30 a.m. ET $80-$90

Felted Flowers in Bloom: Create a lovely bouquet as you explore the basics of wet-felting techniques in a three-session course ideal for both beginners and more experienced felters. This program held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center. Additional sessions will be held September 17 and 24. 1 p.m. ET $175-$195

Handmade Storybooks: Showcase your writing or art in a book as unique as you are. Book artist Sushmita Mazumdar guides students as they work with a variety of traditional and nontraditional materials to craft one-of-a kind storybooks during a two-session course held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center. The second session will be held Saturday, September 17. 1 p.m. ET $95-$115

 

Monday, September 12

Senator Patrick Leahy: The Road Taken:  Drawing on his new memoir, The Road Taken, Patrick Leahy recalls pivotal moments in our nation’s history, from the post-Watergate reform era to ground-breaking Supreme Court confirmations and stress tests like 9/11, the war in Iraq, January 6 and Donald Trump’s impeachment trials. This program held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center and online. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Tuesday, September 13

Exploring the American Revolution: Yorktown and the French Alliance: The climactic battle of the American Revolution, the siege of Yorktown, was a decisive win for George Washington’s Continental Army. Historian Richard Bell analyzes why it was also a triumph for the unlikely but essential wartime alliance forged between patriot revolutionaries and France’s king, Louis XVI. 6:30 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Wednesday, September 14

Taking Control of Your Cancer Risk with WebMD’s John Whyte: Despite what many people think, says physician John Whyte, chief medical officer of WebMD, most cancer is not caused by genetics, but rather lifestyle. He offers guidelines on factors including food, exercise and stress management that can reduce your cancer risk and help you on a journey to better health. This program will be held in person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center and online. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Thursday, September 15

Rick Martínez: Mi Cocina - A Culinary Journey of Self-discovery: In 2019, food writer Rick Martínez undertook a culinary journey that covered Mexico, 32 states, 56 cities and 20,000 miles. He wanted more than to experience new tastes: It was a chance to find and embrace his identity as a third-generation Mexican American. In a conversation with Pati Jinich, chef, cookbook author, and host of the PBS television series “Pati’s Mexican Table,” Martínez discusses the recipes in his new cookbook Mi Cocina, the stories behind them, and their connection to his journey of self-discovery. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

Monday, September 19 

Baltimore Neighborhoods: Mount Washington: Hilly—but far from mountainous—Mount Washington is a residential neighborhood of choice and a destination within the city limits for a variety of activities. Arts journalist and former Baltimore resident Richard Selden continues his survey of Charm City neighborhoods with a virtual tour of Mount Washington, focusing on notable sites that define its history and character. 6:30 p.m. ET $25-$30

 

Wednesday, September 21

Photo 101: Understanding ISO: Students learn how to use their ISO settings to darken and brighten photos, and how this relates to other camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed. 6:30 p.m. ET $45-$55

Orson Welles: A Turbulent and Brilliant Life: Hailed at 25 for his monumental Citizen Kane, the prolific Orson Welles was cursed with being ahead of his time. From his highbrow choices of subject matter to the rule-shattering filmmaking techniques he employed, he was an outsider from the outset—and Hollywood never forgave him for it. Film historian Max Alvarez surveys a career that saw Welles fall from boy genius to industry exile, despite his undervalued and often extraordinary post-Kane cinematic achievements. 6:30 p.m. ET $30-$35 

Sean Carroll: Demystifying Physics: Someone has to be the go-to explainer of mind-bending equations in physics. Sean Carroll is that person, offering deep insights into the workings of the universe—and making it comprehensible. Carroll pulls back the veil of mystery cloaking the most valuable building blocks of modern science as he explains the fundamental ideas informing the modern physics of reality. 7:30 p.m. ET $20-$50

 

Thursday, September 22

 The Dome of the Rock: Dominating the skyline of Jerusalem for more than 1,300 years, the Dome of the Rock is both a sacred Islamic shrine and an iconic symbol of the Holy City. What messages did the artists who built it enshrine here and what does this World Heritage Site have to say to us today? Barbara Boehm, curator emerita of the Met Cloisters explores this remarkable place, including its history, mosaics and inscriptions, and its enduring meaning. Enrolled participants in the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate earn 1/2 credit. 12 p.m. ET $20-$25

Boost Your Emotional Fitness: Increased uncertainty, constant change and ongoing challenges are leading to new levels of stress, feeling overwhelmed, and burnout. Nataly Kogan, speaker, author and host of the Awesome Human podcast, shares research in neuroscience and psychology that provides the foundation for practical strategies that can help individuals reduce stress, boost resilience and meet difficult times with less struggle and greater energy. 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET $25-$30

 

Friday, September 23

The Ultimate Guide to the Food-Friendly Wines of Beaujolais: The marvelous region that straddles Burgundy and the Rhône Valley has much more to offer than the Beaujolais Nouveau. In a tasting led by award-winning sommelier Erik Segelbaum, discover why wine professionals and foodies alike consider the white, pink and red rainbow of Beaujolais the perfect wines for fall and the holidays. This immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience, which is available for pick up from a Washington D.C. wine bar. 6 p.m. ET $65-$75

 

Tuesday, September 27

Write Into Art: Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art: Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for an online workshop that explores essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by Glen John’s A Corner of the Artist’s Room in Paris. 10 a.m. ET $40-$45

Extinctions on Earth: Then and Now: Andrew H. Knoll, a professor of natural history and earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University, discusses the five moments over the past 500 million years when most of Earth’s animal species disappeared, how those past events relate to 21st-century global change and what lessons may be learned for preserving our planet’s precious and precarious biodiversity for future generations. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Thursday, September 29

How Baseball Became A National Pastime: For sports historian Kenneth Cohen, how baseball quickly surpassed other pastimes and became a primary symbol of American uniqueness by the end of the 19th century is a story that’s partly about the powers of marketing in a modernizing nation and partly about the genuinely democratizing potential of a game that everyone could play. Join him as he explores baseball's rise and the decidedly undemocratic response it sparked, as well as the debate about whether it continues to deserve its eminent status as our national pastime today. 6:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

Lauren Lyons | READ MORE

Lauren Lyons is a public affairs specialist at Smithsonian Associates.