PLATO Weekly Update 

February 18, 2025

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
NEW! Most Spring Courses begin this week and some still have space with in-person, virtual and hybrid options. Find the Spring Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

Here are five Spring Courses that still have space:

– Mondays, 1:00-3:00pm, Novels Old and New

– Tuesdays, 1:00-3:30pm, History of the Hollywood Musical

– Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00am, Buddhist Mindfulness: How To Do It; How To Understand It

– Thursdays, 1:00-3:00pm, Writing Workshop

– Fridays, 10:00am-12:00pm, PLATO Travel Group

SPECIAL EVENTS

LECTURES

NEXT WEEK! The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Thursday, February 27, 2025, with bestselling author Rochelle Pennington. This lecture will explore the fascinating story of the events that lead up to the tragic loss of the ship and its 29 crew members. Registration is not required, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

Learn something new with recorded PLATO Lectures offered by fellow PLATO members and their special guest presenters.

FIELD TRIPS

The registration deadline is Noon on Friday, February 21. History & Art Tour with a Vintage Flair!  – Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Since its inception, Beloit has seen nearly 180 years of American history unfold playing a role as a way station on the Underground Railroad and actively participating during the Industrial Revolution thanks to the ingenuity of its citizens. Enjoy the gems of this city located just 55 miles south of Madison! Space is limited so learn more and register today!

NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on February 28 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of your favorite morning beverage. Feel free to bring a friend or family member who might be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD
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Word of mouth is PLATO's best advertising – please forward this email to someone who might enjoy PLATO's courses, trips, lectures, and other special events. Also, check out this list of 10 Ways to Tell Others about PLATO.

THE AGORA

The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for The Agora, Volume 9 
PLATO members are invited to submit original works for the 2025 edition of The Agora in the following categories: Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction (including essays) and Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, drawing and photography). 

This is a blind juried review and the submission deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025. Learn more about The Agora and the submission process here. The Agora Board looks forward to sharing the talents of PLATO members through this journal!

To view highlights from this past season, visit The Agora Features.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your winter viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for February 11 – 24, 2025

J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. (1923-2011) was a pioneering African American mathematician, physicist, and educator who worked at the University of Chicago Met Lab during the Manhattan Project. Wilkins was a child prodigy who completed his mathematics undergrad degree at 17 years old and his master's degree the following year. Later in his career he researched methods for producing fissionable nuclear materials – plutonium-239 in particular. He did not learn the purpose of his research until after the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).