At a mile above sea level and boasting more than 245 days of plentiful sunshine a year, it’s no coincidence that Colorado became the mecca for solar astronomers and Sun enthusiasts alike. But, how did it start? And who made it happen? And why does it persist when the premier solar observing facilities left Colorado decades ago for the volcanic peaks of Hawai’ian Islands? Join Dr. Thomas Bogdan as he answers these questions and shares the colorful history of Colorado’s long fascination with our nearest star, the Sun!

At a mile above sea level and boasting more than 245 days of plentiful sunshine a year, it’s no coincidence that Colorado became the mecca for solar astronomers and Sun enthusiasts alike. But, how did it start? And who made it happen? And why does it persist when the premier solar observing facilities left Colorado decades ago for the volcanic peaks of Hawai’ian Islands? Join Dr. Thomas Bogdan as he answers these questions and shares the colorful history of Colorado’s long fascination with our nearest star, the Sun!

The Ute people have thrived in the Rocky Mountains by using their systematic knowledge of ecosystems, plants, engineering and technology. Now, Ute elders have partnered with scientists to explore the connections between Ute knowledge and contemporary science. Experts from the three Ute tribes discuss the Ute STEM Project, funded by the National Science Foundation. In this project, Ute experts work with archaeologists, ethno-botanists and land managers to tell the history of Ute sites and landscapes in Colorado and help a new generation of Ute youth use science and traditional knowledge to understand the past and present.

The Ute people have thrived in the Rocky Mountains by using their systematic knowledge of ecosystems, plants, engineering and technology. Now, Ute elders have partnered with scientists to explore the connections between Ute knowledge and contemporary science. Experts from the three Ute tribes discuss the Ute STEM Project, funded by the National Science Foundation. In this project, Ute experts work with archaeologists, ethno-botanists and land managers to tell the history of Ute sites and landscapes in Colorado and help a new generation of Ute youth use science and traditional knowledge to understand the past and present.

A woman of culture and compassion, Juanita Dominguez contributed much to the Chicano Movement of the 1970s. She wrote “Yo Soy Chicano”— the movement song that accompanied so many activities and occasions throughout the Southwest—and published numerous articles about her community. Poet and educator Flor Lovato will expand on Juanita Dominguez’s contributions both prior to and during the movement.

Our nine-part series held monthly on Mondays at 1 and 7 pm, fall through spring, features a variety of timely topics by prominent authors and historians.