Course

Explore Yosemite as both a spectacular natural landscape and a place that has shaped American ideas about wilderness, art, science, and conservation. We’ll examine Yosemite’s natural history and scenery, then trace the influence of artists such as Bierstadt, Watkins, and Adams; naturalists such as John Muir; political figures including Lincoln and Roosevelt; and cultural voices such as Emerson. Together, their stories reveal how Yosemite became not just a tourist destination, but part of the American imagination.

Faculty Bio 

Eric Simon has been a professor of biology for over 25 years. He is also the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks used by students in over 40 countries.

This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time 
• Classes will also be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and ends on Tuesday, March 9
• Classes meet for 6 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (1:30–3 PM)
• There is no class on Feb. 16
• All course materials remain in Member Dashboards through March 28

 Member Praise for Eric Simon

Extremely engaging instructor who clearly loved his topic and was very knowledgeable. His enthusiasm was contagious. Very receptive to questions — would start each class by answering questions he'd received and researched.

Thoroughly engaging presentations which were organized, lively and moved at a good pace. I appreciated Professor Simon's enthusiasm, clarity and sense of humor.

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Eric Simon from our archive.