Community education

learn about everything from physics to history to music

Welcome

To Bucket Courses

Welcome To Bucket Courses

everything you want to learn before you kick the bucket

Bucket Courses is a free educational program sponsored by the Community Education Cooperative (CEC) and designed for the “life-long learner.” 

This series of weekly classes explores specific topics taught by experts in their fields, including Grinnell College professors, medical professionals, and career scientists. Topics have included history, psychiatry, music, science, biotechnology, philosophy, theatre, astronomy, religion, and classics.

Spring Bucket Courses Schedule

All Classes Wednesdays 10:00-11:30 am | Caulkins Community Room at Drake Community Library
No preregistration required | ​No fee for attendance
January 25

"What is Writing For?"

Dr. Tisha Turk, Director of Academic Support for Writing and Speaking, Grinnell College

February 1

"Teaching In a Pandemic: A Pedagogy of Trust"

Dr. Karla Erickson, Professor of Sociology, Grinnell College

February 15

Class 1 of 2: "What Do We Really Owe the Future? Nature, Community, and the Climate Emergency"

Dr. Liz Queathem, Professor of Biology and American Studies, Grinnell College

February 22

Class 2 of 2: "What Do We Really Owe the Future? Nature, Community, and the Climate Emergency"

Dr. Liz Queathem, Professor of Biology and American Studies, Grinnell College

March 1

"The History and Future of the Book"

Dr. Erik Simpson, Professor of English, Grinnell College

March 8

"Two Agricultural Vignettes"

Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor of Social Science, Grinnell College

March 15

"Technology Trumps Tradition - How The Early Phonograph Industry Transformed Human Musical Experience Worldwide"

Roger Vetter, Professor of Music, Grinnell College

March 22

"Century of DNA"

Gene Wubbels, Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska at Kearney

March 29

"No Runs, No Hits, No Errors: Marilynne Robinson's Deferral of Perfection from Gilead to Home"

Stephen Andrews, Professor of English, Grinnell College

April 5

“Anthropocene Fictions: How Novels Depict Climate Change"

Shuchi Kapila, Professor of English, Grinnell College

April 12

“The Renfrow Story: Edith Renfrow Smith and her deep roots in Poweshiek County” Class 1 of 2

Monique Shore, Drake Community Library IT, Grinnell, Iowa


April 19

“The Renfrow Story: Edith Renfrow Smith and her deep roots in Poweshiek County” Class 2 of 2

Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Professor of Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies, Grinnell College

April 26

"Is History in the Past?”

Caleb Elfenbein, Professor of History and Religious Studies, Grinnell College

May 3

"Food Stories"

Todd Armstrong, Professor of Russian, Grinnell College

THE BUCKET COURSES ARE FINISHED FOR THIS SEASON AND WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER
doug caulkins presenter

Presenters

View a list of our previous Bucket Courses presenters.

Course group and presnter

Courses

Watch videos of previous Bucket Courses online.

books in a library

Art Heimann/
Joanne Bunge Book Fund

A memorial book fund has been established at the Drake Community Library.

Grinnell CEC Partner Organizations

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