PLATO Weekly Update

September 15, 2026

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES
THIS WEEK! Most Fall Courses begin this week! Have a question about a course you have registered for? Find answers on the Fall Course Schedule webpage.

CURRICULUM CURIOUS?
Interested in offering a course someday on a topic that intrigues you? Get started on the Propose a Course webpage. 

EVENTS

FIELD TRIPS
NOTE: Going forward, mail-in registration is discontinued – all PLATO field trips will require online registration.

West Rail Corridor: Railroads Transform Madison – a guided historic architecture walking tour through the West Rail Corridor on Sunday, October 4, from 2:00-3:45pm. Registration is required and members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

NEXT MONTH! Milwaukee Art Museum Tour with Professor Emeritus Alan Garfield on Wednesday, October 21. The MAM, with more than 34,000 artworks, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Quadracci Pavillion so the tour will begin with viewing the awesome opening and closing of the Brise Soleil "wings". Registration is required and members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

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LECTURES

NEXT WEEK! The Power of Art in History on Thursday, September 24from 1:30-3pm at Oakwood Village University Woods Arts and Education Center. In this dynamic lecture, Professor Alan Garfield share slides of what many consider masterpieces in the world of art history and discuss how and why they have been given that designation. Registration is not required, guests are welcome, and parking is free. Learn more here.

SAVE THE DATE! Forgiveness as a Way of Improving Well-Being on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 1:30pm with Dr. Robert Enright, a world-renowned University of Wisconsin-Madison professor and pioneer in the science of forgiveness, for an inspiring and uplifting presentation on how forgiveness can bring greater peace, hope, and healing to our lives. Registration is not required. Learn more here.

PAST RECORDINGS
Visit the Past Recordings webpage to explore some of PLATO's previous lectures and course sessions on a variety of timely topics presented by PLATO members and special guest presenters.

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NOON ZOOM

NEXT MONTH! Join retired WPR talk show host Joy Cardin and Dr. Patrick Remington for a Noon Zoom discussion about the measles outbreak, vaccine controversies and other public health concerns on Thursday, October 1 from 12:00 - 1:00pm. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and members can register a guest. Learn more and register here. 

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THEATER TRIPS
NOTE: Going forward, mail-in registration is discontinued – all PLATO theater trips will require online registration.

NEXT MONTH! Fireside Theatre: Come From Away on Thursday, October 22. This exhilarating Tony Award-winning musical was born out of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Registration is required and members may bring a guest. Registration deadline is Monday, October 5. Learn more and register here.

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POP-UP EVENTS

Submit your idea for a Pop-Up Event here.

SOLD OUT! The Pop-Up Art Tour of The Chazen Museum of Art is now full. For those who have registered – please note that the tour will begin at 1:00pm and end at 2:30pm. Review details for this event here.

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BREAKFAST & COFFEE GATHERINGS + A LUNCH HOUR MEET-UP
These social events offer members and their guests social opportunities to share conversation over coffee or breakfast and lunch options.

THIS WEEK! Third Friday PLATO Meet-Up at the Great Dane Pub on the East Side on Jupiter Drive on September 18, from 11:30am-1:30pm. Note that this gathering will now be in the downstairs bar area instead of upstairs and ordering lunch is not required. Learn more and RSVP here.