History

The History Interest Group explores events, ideas, and lives of leading persons of the past. Led by professional historians, the group reads and discusses books chosen by the group to get to know the past and its meaning for us today. Member read the common chosen material for the day in readiness for discussion.

Italian Culture and History

This group offers programs on various aspects of Italian history and culture, from the Etruscans to cinema. Offered entirely in English!

Philosophy

The Philosophy Interest Group probes the meaning of life, and explores how thinkers arrive at such meaning. The background required is the willingness to complete suggested readings prior to each meeting. Books, selected by the leaders and participants, are required. No special competencies are necessary except for the desire to enter into discussion and to struggle for meaning in life. The subjects covered in past meetings have included post-modernism, William James, Descartes, John Dewey, and Isaiah Berlin.

Advanced Management Seminars

An ongoing series of discussions about the management of changing infrastructures and their impact on society. The seminars examine the technologies, structures and policies of various societal elements, such as higher education, electronic news media, internet, healthcare, distance learning, among others. Regular in depth presentations feature national speakers, community leaders, and ASPEC members. It makes full utilization of telecom technologies to bring together an interaction between ASPEC members and the larger community.

Current Events

The Current Events Interest Group discusses, each week, the articles in the Perspective section of the Sunday St. Petersburg Times. These articles range from ultra-liberal to ultra-conservative. The open discussion allows attendees to present their own “perspective” to the subject.

Discussing Differences On Line

This on-line group explores the issues of unity and diversity within the U.S. and the world at large. Culture, language, age, religion, gender, sexuality and diversity itself are examined. Participants also have online ongoing discussions on scheduled topics. Participants are especially encouraged to contribute from personal experience and to collect challenging new topics and source materials. We encourage and appreciate diverse contributions.

Financial Times

Discusses weekly events in the worldwide financial markets and their impact on the global political economy. Each week we review 
articles from BARRON'S plus videos or publications from other online financial news organizations.

Foreign Affairs

This group is patterned after the internationally known discussion Study Circle. Members meet weekly to discuss controversial domestic and international, political and social issues. Participants read appropriate material prior to each meeting. Material is drawn from various sources, but the primary text used is the bi-monthly magazine Foreign Affairs.

Improving Strategic Decisions

The Improving Strategic Decisions Interest Group offers an opportunity for Academy members to participate in an intellectual effort that enables them to share their expertise in developing an interdisciplinary approach to interdisciplinary problems. In addition, the program is intended to inspire some strategic decision making that will in fact move up towards the development of a new age of enlightenment.

The American Stage Interest Group

The American Stage Interest Group is a community interest group that works with the local equity theater in St. Petersburg. The participants purchase a special ASPEC pass that entitles them to attend 4 theater productions at American Stage. ASPEC schedules them as Sunday matinees and American Stage provides special tours of backstage, costume shop, lighting systems upon our request. Additionally, every scheduled production includes a talk-back with the actors, director, and other staff after the play. This allows for discussion of the play and provides a deeper understanding of the production and the individual performances. The staff also gain the valuable feedback on the performance during the discussion.

Art History

Presentations and films on great artists and art movements, principally from Impressionism onward. Occasional review of the ArtStor database.

ASPEC Singers - Biffy Sherburne / Nancy Reed

The ASPEC Singers Interest Group is composed of mixed voices who enjoy singing music of many kinds. The group gives a concert in the spring, but meets weekly throughout the year for fun. A variety of music is included so that there is something for everyone - some members don't read music well; some have years of experience. Everyone is welcome - come make music with us.

Foreign Film Study

The Foreign Film Study Interest Group enlists members to introduce and show various foreign films, and to lead the discussion afterward. The group meets one evening each week at Lewis House. Films are chosen by the Interest Group leader, often drawing on suggestions of ASPEC members. We attempt to have one French film, one Italian film, and one Asian film each month, but we have also had films from Britain, Scandinavian countries, Canada, Iceland, Africa, Russia, Central Europe, and Arab countries. Films are chosen primarily for quality and entertainment value, but also for variety and for social, political, historical and cultural values.

Music Listening

The Music interest group combines informal discussions with illustrations from records and tapes. The group seeks to augment the listener's understanding and appreciation of music, thus enhancing the enjoyment of it. While the focus is mainly on classical music, programs occasionally deal with jazz and other music forms. Subjects may include the works of a single composer, the music of one country or region, or the career of a particular artist. Occasionally, there will be more specialized topics such as the musical history of the mass, or the use of the saxophone in symphonic music.

Studio Art

Studio Art is the hands-on dimension of the Visual Arts interest group. Members learn the techniques of creating works of art through drawing, painting, mixed media, and imaginative experiments. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary to join the group. Those who have had previous experience will find they can enhance their artistic ability with new points of view. Special workshops may be offered.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Interest Group has 4 components: education about art history, artistic techniques, specific artists and current exhibits; responsibility for exhibits at Lewis House; hands-on workshops in various visual arts and crafts techniques; trips to art museums, galleries and studios. The group is participatory, with attendees presenting, planning, and sharing. This ongoing interest group meets three times a month in the winter season, and occasionally there are guest speakers.

Conversational German

The goal of the Conversational German Interest Group is to maintain and extend our vocabulary and fluency in the modern German of today. Discussion topics are brought up spontaneously according to the interests and experiences of the participants. Our weekly meetings are informal and are conducted 100% in German.

Conversational Spanish

The purpose of the Conversational Spanish Interest Group is to converse in Spanish in an informal and good humored manner in order to improve skills and fluency in this elegant language. The leaders will be happy to correct the grammar and pronunciation of those who desire. This is done one lunch hour a week, but can be practiced at any time. The topics are varied: our everyday lives, newspaper and magazine articles, books written in Spanish. The leaders of the group spoke Spanish as children or have lived many years in Spanish-speaking countries.

Conversational French

The purpose of the Conversational French Interest Group is to provide Academy members with the opportunity to converse informally in French in order that they may improve or maintain their fluency in the language. Conversations take place during the lunch hours. Participants are encouraged to bring a "brown bag" lunch. To facilitate participation, a conversation leader is designated for each session, and a topic is chosen. Leaders may provide, in advance, short articles or vocabulary relevant to the topic.

Health

The Health Interest Group provides information to increase our knowledge about health promotion and disease prevention. It is stressed that no medical advice would be given. Specialists are contacted to present and discuss regular daily problems of aging, the role of faith in health, sleep disorders, dental problems, back pain, and cardiovascular exercises. The group also will focus on the advances in science and technology, as they unfold the mysteries of relationships between genetics and environment. The role of genomic, genetic manipulation, the ethical and moral aspect of these new modalities in health are some of the interesting topic discussions.

Locus Focus

Whatever captures your recollection about a location should be your presentation. For example, recently a member read a series of beautiful poems about the change of seasons in an Indiana town. Another presentation described a physician's rewarding experiences as a country doctor. Another was a description of a "hidden lake" near the White House. In short, whatever impressed you about a location should constitute your presentation.

Taoist Tai Chi

Meditation in Motion. The 108 movements of the Taoist Tai Chi set gradually and gently work to strengthen and stretch the muscles of the body, increase circulation of blood and oxygen, while improving balance, decreasing fatigue, and developing endurance. The group meets twice weekly and offers individual instruction time for new members.

WomenSpeak

Participants in the WomenSpeak Interest Group discuss gender-related issues and subjects from a woman's point of view. An informal atmosphere is maintained, and occasionally there are guest speakers. Men are welcome!

Yoga

The Yoga Group meets weekly with a certified yoga instructor to perform yoga for most levels.

Religions and Faiths

Members who attend the Religions and Faiths Interest Group are interested in the many aspects of religion and spirituality. The group study ‘normally takes an analytical and historical approach to subjects, which may be balanced at times with attention to spiritual perspectives. Programs include presentations or lectures by members or guest speakers, audiovisuals, small group sessions, and reading and discussion of books. The group is member-led, and participants are encouraged to suggest relevant material for study and discussion.

Books and Ideas

At each session of the Books and Ideas Interest Group an ASPEC member reports personal reactions and impressions about a book, new or old. Maybe she/he loved the book and its ideas; maybe she/he hated it and wants to explain why. Selected books chosen express ideas and theories of general interest from a variety of fields: history, science, ethics, famous people, the future, society, values. Some of the selected books are nonfiction, some are fiction. Usually a strong idea or viewpoint is emphasized.

Contemporary Short Story

The Contemporary Short Story Interest Group discusses selected excellent stories written from 1970 to 1985, found in The Vintage book of Contemporary American Short Stories, edited by Tobias Wolf, which is available at Amazon.com, other book sellers, and some libraries. From time to time the interest group leader provides mini-lectures and handouts on different ways to appreciate and analyze short stories. Members received handouts on seven methods used by readers and critics in the twentieth century. The recent thinking by critical community is that there are many good ways to interpret and understand a story. The group meets twice each month.

Play Reading

The Play Reading Interest Group reads plays without rehearsal: old, new, classic, avant garde, tragedies, melodrama, comedies and mysteries. The mix reflects the interests of our participants, who take turns leading. In addition, each play is put in context; we learn about the playwrights and take time to discuss our reactions to the material.

International Short Stories

At each session of the International Short Stories Interest Group members will facilitate a discussion of a selected story. The "weekly leader" will provide some background material on the author and the story and then utilize discussion questions to solicit input, reactions and impressions from the interest group participants, who would have also previously read the story.

Poetry

Participants in the Poetry interest group meet bi-weekly to read and discuss an immense variety of poems. Participants present their own creative efforts, or present a poet and her/his poems on a particular theme. Periodically recognized poets or students from Eckerd's Creative Writing Program share their works. Selections used may be old favorites, the works of Nobelists, Pulitzers, Laureates, or poems in translation.

Writers Workshop

The purpose of the Writers Workshop Interest Group is to offer encouragement and help to authors who are writing for publication, and to provide a forum for review and helpful criticism. Academy authors are currently writing history, biography, poetry, fiction, memoirs, philosophy, technology, and other documents. A goal is publishing books and journal articles.

World Classics

This interest group will explore in depth important written works whose longevity continued use and impact classify them as world classics. This would include not only literary masterpieces, but also influential works in other areas such as religion, science, economics, etc. Each major work will require at least three months of critical exploration and study to complete. Each participant on a rotational basis, will be expected to lead the group in its reading and analysis.

Applied Technology

The purpose of the Applied Technology group is to produce "fruits" of the centuries of engineering and technical development. The group's first product was the construction of a single seat, Ultra Light, experimental airplane. After this success, the group joined students in the classroom to build an automobile. This was followed by a creative design of a sailboat. Each of the products was "built from scratch." A recent project was a 23-foot covered launch built with oak, cedar, mahogany, and teak woods. It is an electric powered boat launched in 2006, and it was presented to Eckerd College.

Our team also does work for many organizations in the community, learn more here.

Computers

The Computer Interest Group conducts demonstrations, lectures, discussions and instruction covering all aspects of home computer use for every level of experience, novice to expert. Lectures, demonstrations, group discussions and lab sessions are informal, friendly and non-intimidating. There is no "curriculum." Any subject, including hardware, software, word processing, applications, user problems and solutions is apt to be on the agenda.

Mathematics Group

Designed for non-mathematicians who would like an introduction to contemporary mathematics. Each week we discuss topics in mathematics and view DVD videos presenting different branches of mathematics. 

Science and Society

The Science and Society Interest Group explores the impact of science and technology on our culture. By participating in lectures and discussions, each individual may gain an understanding of the results of scientific development so that better decisions can be made about the future of our society. No reading is required; however, suggestions are made for outside reading to enhance understanding in the wide range of topics. Recent subjects included "The Nuclear Reactors," "Fuel Cells," "Food Additives," "Superconductivity," and many other areas of science that impact society.

New York Times Science Discussion Group

The New York Times Science Discussion Group uses the Tuesday N.Y. Times science section as the take off point for discussion. Other articles and reading material (distributed by e-mail) may be selected by moderators, who come from the group itself.