Forever Learning Institute

Stay sharp with the Forever Learning Institute! Follow one of our thematic tracks or drop into classes that interest you. There’s no need to commit entirely — participate as much or as little as you like via our live events. And, if you missed them, catch up on all previous FLI events on our YouTube page.

Contextualizing 100 years at duke

Contextualizing 100 Years at Duke

Gothic architecture. Groundbreaking research. Games that have gone down in history. As our university celebrates its centennial year, what says “Duke” to you? Join the Forever Learning Institute and Duke experts as we peel back the pages of history to examine Duke’s storied legacy. In this limited-edition Centennial Celebration course, you’ll learn about the lesser-known economic, societal, technological, and social layers that built Duke’s foundation and made it into the university it is today.

Register for Contextualizing 100 Years at Duke Session

  • September 12, 2024 - Constructing the Gothic Wonderland
  • October 1, 2024 - Evolving a Campus Culture
  • October 24, 2024 - Duke Women Leaders for a New Century
  • November 14, 2024 - Pushing Research Limits
  • December 5, 2024 - Building a Sports Dynasty

graphic of different foods shaped as a thought bubble

Food For Thought

What is the future of food? Get ready to sink your teeth into this Forever Learning Institute course spanning the many facets of our relationships with food. Hear from Duke experts on topics such as how genetically-modified produce is expanding our nutritious options, what can be done to create more equitable access to food across the world, the cultural and psychological underpinnings of food that contribute to our overall wellness—and more.

Register for Food For Thought Session

  • September 17, 2024 - Food Science: Genomics to Markets
  • October 8, 2024 - Food Culture: Identity and Community
  • October 29, 2024 - Food Puzzles: Agriculture, Climate, and Solutions
  • November 19, 2024 - Food Wellness: Food as Medicine

 Photo collage of multiple Duke people

Let’s Talk About Race

Inspired by Duke University’s popular UNI course “Let’s Talk About Race,” discover the profound impacts of race in today’s world in this thought-provoking Forever Learning Institute series. Duke’s expert faculty will take you through an engaging course that explores the origins, evolution, and consequences of racial classifications throughout time. This series allows the greater Duke community to gather in an innovative collection of evidence-based lectures and meaningful conversations that will challenge preconceptions and foster understanding across social divides. Each session will use global and national contexts around race, conduct examination of race and its intersectionality within societal structures, and faculty research that has received international recognition, to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for attendees. Explore the power of knowledge and dialogue in dismantling racism and building a more just world with your Duke community.

Register for Let’s Talk About Race Session

  • September 18, 2024 - Biological Notions of Race
  • October 9, 2024 - Socially Constructed Race
  • November 6, 2024 - Structural and Systemic Racism
  • December 4, 2024 - White Immigrants and Race

Body

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

If you were unable to attend sessions from our previous tracks, we have made them all available to view at your convenience. Dig into courses on the Human ExperienceSocial MovementsAmerica TodayAdvancing Health and WellnessArtificial IntelligenceSolving Wicked ProblemsClimate ChangemakersThe Big Questions, and our professional development seminars.

Watch presentations from these themes now.


Each academic track includes a combination of lectures, panel discussions, online courses, recommended readings and workshops that you can complete at your own pace. Plus, tune in for monthly live engagements to get your questions answered by Duke experts and have engaging, thought-provoking conversations with fellow alumni. Live sessions of all academic events are recorded and will be posted on the Duke Alumni Lifelong Learning YouTube Channel.

What are you waiting for? Feel like a student again and register for the new semester!