Below is a list of upcoming lifelong learning opportunities for alumni, students and friends of Southwestern University. Please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or by calling 800-960-6363 with any questions.

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts Upcoming Events
In addition to ongoing student, faculty and guest artist performances, end of semester highlights of The Sarofim School of Fine Arts include the Theatre for Young Audience's production of "This Is Not a Pipe Dream" by Barry Kornhauser, a family play about what it means to be an artist, Nov. 18-23, the SU Wind Ensemble, conducted by guest artist Rodney Winther and senior student Michelle Perrin Saturday, Nov. 22, and a performance by the SU Chorale Sunday, Nov. 23. For theatre tickets and show-times, contact The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center box office at 512-863-1378, Monday-Friday from 1-5 p.m. The fine arts gallery is open weekdays, 1-5 p.m. Click here to view The Sarofim Fine Arts School full calendar of events.

Thirty-first Brown Symposium: Science and Religion
The 2009 Brown Symposium, February 5-6, 2009, will bring to the Southwestern University campus seven distinguished scholars whose work focuses on the intersection of science and religion. Science and religion address the most fundamental questions of origin, purpose and place, and have produced many of humanity’s greatest achievements. Yet, they are often seen as conflicting world views. The debate between science and religion continues today; it is a topic of discussion in presidential elections and has been the center of legal challenges to public education. The Brown Symposium is presented by Southwestern University on an annual basis. Open to the public without charge, the symposium is funded through an endowment established by The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, Texas, for professorships at the University. This year's event has been developed by Benjamin Pierce, Professor of Biology and holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair at Southwestern University. The lectures will be held in The Alma Thomas Theater, located in the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. An exhibit by French poet and artist, Christian Lavigne, will also be on display in the Fine Arts Gallery in conjunction with the event. For more information and to register, visit the Brown Symposium Web site.

Nobel Laureate to Give 2009 Shilling Lecture
Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, will give the 2009 Shilling Lecture at Southwestern University. The lecture will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Alma Thomas Theater. A native of Kenya, Maathai was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her work with the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, which she founded in 1977. The organization encouraged women’s groups to plant trees to prevent soil erosion, provide firewood and produce food. As a result of the Green Belt Movement, similar initiatives have been successfully launched in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, among others. Maathai also has been a leading advocate for canceling the backlogged, non-repayable debts of poor African countries. In December 2002, Maathai was elected to Kenya’s parliament with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote. Maathai shared her life story in her 2006 memoir, "Unbowed." Her story is also featured in a new award-winning documentary titled “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai.” Tickets for the lecture will be made available to the general public Jan. 27, 2009, for $10. Click here for more information about Wangari Maathai and the Shilling Lecture.

Alumni Travel: Chianti, Italy
For its first international alumni travel program, The Association has arranged a tour of the Tuscany region of Italy through AHI Travel. The tour will take place September 13-21, 2009 with prices starting at $2,495 plus airfare and value-added tax (VAT), based on double-occupancy. For questions or to make a reservation, please contact AHI Travel at 800-323-7373.

Click here to read about lifelong learning opportunities that took place this academic year.