LEWISTON — Lewiston Auburn Senior College has announced 21 new courses for the spring. There will be sessions on various energy types, history and minds, government, plants, what pets think of their owners, languages, paintings and nature.

Registration will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21. Most courses will begin the week of March 26.

Two Related Energies Heat and Electricity:  9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Mondays beginning March 26. Basic electricity principles and theories about heat will show how the two energies are related. Instructor: Hugh Keene. Course limit: 30.

Going Deeper: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Mondays beginning April 2. It has been said that the two most important days in life are the day of birth and the day we found out why. The course will offer participants the opportunity to go “soul-deep” and uncover the many facets of that “why.” Sessions will be participatory and reflective. Instructor: Marguerite Stapleton. Course limit: 15.

Intro to Photoshop: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Mondays beginning March 26. Adobe Photoshop produces digital images for print, web, video and even children’s book illustrations. The course will explore the basics of the program and how it can be used as an art form. Instructor: Judy Hierstein. Course limit: 10.

The Plague of 1348: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Tuesdays beginning March 27. In 1348 the Black Plague hit Europe and wiped out a third to half of the people. What was it? And does it still exist? The course will examine the effect of the Plague on the societal future of Europe in the 14th century. Instructor: Alan Elze. Course limit: 30.

Health, Illness and Culture — Medical Anthropology: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Tuesdays beginning March 20. The sessions will focus on the interface between human ecology and culture. Human beings, unlike other animals, have traveled far around the globe, occupying even the most inhospitable niches. However, they have not only adapted to what exists in nature, they have also radically altered the landscape. Physical and cultural adaptation, as well as symbolic meaning, are featured. Instructor: Mark Silber. Course limit: 20.

How a Painter Looks at Paintings: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Tuesdays beginning March 27. The elements of a good painting are carefully assembled by an artist to appeal in ways that are often not evident to the viewer. By examining artworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century, the course will explore the elements — technique and design — of painted artwork, primarily oil paintings. In addition to famous works, students will view the artwork of lesser-known artists. The wide-ranging course is for anyone interested in expanding their appreciation of art. Instructor: Mike Everett. Course limit: 20.

Hand Reflexology for Health and Wellness: 9:30 a.m. to noon for three Wednesdays beginning March 28. The three-day introductory workshop in hand reflexology will provide training in specific touch techniques to bring about relaxation, assisting the participants with issues such as insomnia, headaches and gastrointestinal discomfort. Participants will learn how to assist family, friends and themselves and should be prepared to work with a partner to practice with one another. Partners will be made in class and will change weekly. Trim and file fingernails and bring a pillow and a towel to class each week. Instructor: Lynn Poor. Course limit: 10.

What Does Your Pet Think of You?: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Wednesdays beginning March 28. Along with difference between humans and animals, this course treats similarities as well — morality, intelligence, communication, empathy, altruism, and asks, “Are humans truly exceptional?” and “If so, how so?” Case materials from many species will be featured. Instructor: Stephen Piker. Course limit: 25.

Living History — And then Some: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Wednesdays beginning March 28. The course is a repeat of those presented during the spring 2017 session. It will cover major events of the last half century. Facilitated by Cynthia Peters, six instructors will each share a specific and meaningful experience of how wartime conditions affected their lives with anecdotes not previously included. Dates, presenters and topics are: March 28, Rose Goodwin, “London Blitz”; April 4, Hugh Keene, “WW II Bombardier’s Diary”; April 11, Charles Plummer, “Korean War Naval Aviator”; April 18, Phil Vampatella, “Vietnam War Pilot”; April 25, Gloria Hall, “Desert Storm Military Nurse”; May 2, Alan Elze, “The Cold War.” Course limit: 30. 

Forests of Lilliput, Botany of Nonflowering Plants: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for six Wednesdays beginning March 28. The course will survey the morphology, reproduction, ecology and identification of lichens, liverworts, mosses, clubmosses, ferns and their relatives. Presentation is with PowerPoint and actual specimens. Instructor: Jeff Pengel. Course limit: 25.

Republic, If You Can Keep It: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Wednesdays beginning March 28. When Benjamin Franklin was asked about the government created at the constitutional convention in 1787, he responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” 230 years later we are still trying to sustain the American republic. The course will discuss what it will take today to “keep our republic.” Instructor: Doug Bennett. Course limit: 30.

Stereotyping of Native Americans: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for five Thursdays beginning March 29. This course will examine prejudice in society. Instructor: Mike Akerley. Course limit: 20.

History of Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Thursdays beginning March 29 at Schooner Estates in Auburn. Participants will examine the reasons why the 20th century was a time of such unprecedented violence in history and learn how repressive Utopian governments and terrorist organizations are created and organized, and how they use violence to achieve their goals. Instructor: Dr. Charles Plummer. Course limit: 25.

Advanced Conversational French: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Thursdays beginning March 29. The course will help students maintain and enhance their conversational skills in French. Those with a solid background in the language will use those skills in conversation and writing. Instructor: Lorraine Giasson. Course limit: 15.

Piecing Together the Patterns of Our Lives, A Memoir Workshop: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for five Thursdays beginning March 29 at SeniorsPlus.  This workshop will assist participants in writing their life stories. Instructor: Ariela Zucker. Course limit: 10.

A Taste of Hebrew: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Thursdays beginning March 29 at SeniorsPlus. This is an opportunity to get a first impression of the overall structure of the Hebrew language. The course will include some practice of writing and reading to make the language more accessible. Most of the time will be dedicated to developing basic vocabulary in day-to-day Hebrew and simple phrases to enable short conversations. Instructor: Ariela Zucker. Course limit: 12.

Maine Trees in Art and Literature: Get to know Maine forest trees through art and literature. The course will examine published poetry and short verse, paintings and other art forms, and interpret work based on observations and discussions. Instructor: Pamela Davis-Green. Four Fridays 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. beginning April 6. Course limit: 15.

Introduction to the Old Testament: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Fridays beginning April 6. Present day Bibles are separated into the Old and New Testament. This course will highlight the Old Testament, how it is divided and its important people and events. Discussion will include how the Bible has come down to its present form with its different translations. Instructor: Alan Elze. Course limit: 30.

Genealogy First Steps: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for four Fridays beginning March 23; no class will be held March 30. The course is designed for those interested in starting their genealogical journey, or those who want to start over at the beginning. It will provide the foundational tools for research. Instructor: Lin Wright. Course limit: 20.

Using Sign Language and Gestures in Our Communication: 1 to 3 p.m. for six Fridays beginning March 23; no class will be held March 30. The animated course will teach the use of basic sign language and gestural skills. Instructor: Stephanie Gelinas. Course limit: 20.

Genealogy Computer Lab: 1 to 3 p.m. for eight Fridays beginning April 6. The course includes directed lab exercises to expose students to a variety of sources and sites combined with time to work on their own tree with assistance from a knowledgeable instructor. Windows computer familiarity is recommended: bring a flash memory drive. Instructor: Lin Wright. Course limit: 15.

For online registration, go to usm.maine.edu/seniorcollege. To the left of the screen choose “Academic Info” then spring 2018. Read the “Important Information” and “Registration Instructions” then choose courses. Each course is $25. Online payments are by credit card only. Other forms of payment require mail-in registration.

For more information, call 207-780-5960.