ALLways Learning Series

Aerial view of the Acadia University campus Every week during the academic semesters, we invite ALL members and members of our local community to join us for a free, casual ALLways Learning Series (formerly Lunchtime Learning Series).

We cover topics both big and small in scope, from local to international, and from arts to sciences. We aim to offer lively talks from engaging speakers that anyone in the audience can enjoy. No registration is required.

Sessions take place at the K.C. Irving Environmental Centre Auditorium. The Irving Centre is located at 32 University Avenue. The room is located on the lower level of the building. There is a side-entrance on that level, or an elevator is available if you arrive on the main floor. This room has limited seating, and due to fire regulations, we must close the door once the room is full, so please plan to arrive early. All events take place from 2:00-3:00pm.

Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy

Our general rule is if NSCC - Kingstec Campus is closed due to inclement weather, Acadia Lifelong Learning classes and events will be cancelled for that day, even if the Acadia University campus remains officially open. Please check our site for possible cancellation announcements.

Fall 2026 Schedule

Date	Speaker	Topic
11 September	Doug Symons	Oak Island’s First Visitors: Irish Monks, Vikings and Templars
18 September	Brian Wilson	“That Others May Live: The evolution of Ground Search and Rescue in Nova Scotia"
25 September	Mo Snyder (Acadia*)	Holey Moley! the science of sinkholes
2 October - NOTE :This session will take place at BAC 244	Graham Daborn	Experiments in Community-based Environmental Science and Management
9 October	Brenda Thompson	Enslavers of Kings County
16 October	Jen Kershaw	Genetically Modified Organisms (How GMOs are made, why controversial, the benefits and risks of genetically engineered materials)
23 October	Paul Illsley	The Faroe Islands: A Photographer's Shangri-La?
30 October	Jon Saklofske (Acadia*)	Video game studies, systems literacy, using AI for digital humanities tools, and the video game sublime: A sabbatical research retrospective
6 November	Rene Cottreau	Archaeological digs at L"Anse aux Meadows
13 November	Peter Mowat	The Deep Roots Music Festival: For the Love of Music
20 November	Wendy Robicheau	Not Just Lies: How I weave Historical Facts with Fiction to Create Stories of Faction
27 November	Cara MacInnis (Acadia*)	Art Imitates Life: Reflexive Reflections on my intergroup contact era
4 December	Chris O’Neill	Role of the Arts in a Just Society
11 December	Graham Daborn	A New Zealand Environmental Cocktail: Pests, Poisons and Politics
*Acadia offerings, also known as Sabbatical Showcases, represent an opportunity for Acadia faculty members to share their research with campus and community.

Winter - Spring 2027 Schedule

Date	Speaker	Topic
15 January	Steve Skafte	Abandoned Cemeteries of Nova Scotia
22 January	Alex Speers	The Franklin Expedition
29 January	Jason Holt (Acadia*)	Philosophical Themes in Leisure and Aesthetics
5 February	Katie MacArthur	Accessibility for All: Beyond the Built Environment
12 February	Aaron MacNeil	When we go out there we can get eaten: on sharks and surfing
19 February	Colin Craig	A Passion for Stone
26 February	Nicoletta Faraone (Acadia*)	From Discovery to Innovation: Advancing Tick Research Through the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre
5 March	Nina Newington	Forest Reciprocity
12 March	Louise Trotter	Following Karl Around the World
19 March	Jeffrey Sachs	Recent Attacks on American Universities
26 March	*Good Friday - no presentation*
2 April	Tamara Harvey	The Ultimate Gift: Inspiring Learning Through Human Donation
9 April	Antony Berger	Preserving community memories in story - a Newfoundland example
16 April	Alison Purcell	Seeds for the Future: Seed Banking at Acadia and Around the World
23 April	Can Mutlu	Geopolitical Challenges for Canada in the 21st Century
30 April	Ashley Doyle (Acadia*)	Serving Through Applied Accounting and Risk Management
7 May	Vaughn Cosman	Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro
*Acadia offerings, also known as Sabbatical Showcases, represent an opportunity for Acadia faculty members to share their research with campus and community.