Do you have a quest to learn about new things? How about topics like rare books, tiny houses or climbing Mount Everest?
Well all of those and more are on the docket for this year’s Wings of Knowledge series at NHTI.
This is the 16th year of the program that brings guest speakers in from New Hampshire and beyond to talk about their areas of expertise, and the first year of a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University.
“With that type of partnership, we think we can offer all kinds of great programming for not only the college, but the greater Concord community,” said Steve Ambra, one of the coordinators for Wings of Knowledge.
And you’re in luck because the first event is next Tuesday (Oct. 4), and it’s all free.
Wings of Knowledge begins with Ken Gloss, a rare book dealer and owner of Brattle Book Shop in Boston. Gloss has even been on Antiques Roadshow, so he’s kind of a big deal in the world of old books.
Gloss will talk about the value of old and rare books, and if you have any sitting on the shelves at home, bring them along. That’s because once Gloss is done addressing everyone as a group, he’ll take a look at any and all books that audience members want to bring in and give them a free verbal appraisal. It will be like you’re on Antiques Roadshow, just without the television cameras.
“We get people who are at the top of their fields and profession,” Ambra said.
Typically, Wings of Knowledge presentations are held in the NHTI Library Living Room, but for ones that are expected to draw a bigger crowd, those are done in the Sweeney Auditorium – which is where this one will be held.
There are eight events on the schedule for this year, but with November’s speaker on graphic arts unable to make it, the powers that be are trying to fill that spot with another artist. So stay tuned to see what comes of the November event, but don’t worry, there’s still time for it to all come together.
Coming up in December is Isa Bauer of Tiny House Northeast, who will talk about the tiny house phenomenon. Word on the street is there might even be an actual tiny house outside Sweeney Auditorium for people to tour.
Subsequent events include handwriting analysis, celebration of National Engineer’s Week, mystery writing, culture in many societies, where an NHTI international student shares insights of home and culture, and of adapting to a new life in New Hampshire.
“Every continent, except Antarctica, has been represented by a student presenting about their home country,” Ambra said.
The final event is all about mountaineering Mount Everest.
All presentations are free and start at 6 p.m., and generally last 45 minutes to an hour. Some speakers answer questions during, while others have Q and A sessions at the end. And did we mention there’s always refreshments after.
“We usually get a healthy mix of students, faculty and community members,” Ambra said. “Plus there’s refreshments, so you can’t go wrong.”
Wings of Knowledge is supported by the NHTI Student Senate and Campus Activities Board.
Work on next year’s Wings of Knowledge schedule has already begun.
For further information, call 230-4028 or visit nhti.edu/wings.
