Explorations Lectures LLC

We are announcing a spring break from lecturing to focus on research and curriculum development.

Bill expects to return to lecturing in the spring of 2026. We'll keep you posted as we get closer.

As many of you know, Bill has created a series of lectures on Astronomy and Astrophysics. To date, he's delivered nearly 150 presentations on these subjects to audiences at Fairfield Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Lifetime Learners Institute (Norwalk Community College), Westport Westport Center for Senior Activities, Weston Senior Activities Center, and The Women's Club of Danbury/New Fairfield. He's currently taking a short hiatus from lecturing, to complete this series and to start expanding other subject areas to include general and military history, archeology, and physical anthropology. We will periodically update this site with more details on future presentations.

The next set of lectures will be hosted by Westport Center for Senior Activities and will be delivered in person at 21 Imperial Ave. , Westport, CT starting on Thursdays, January 9, 2025. The topic is: “An Astronomy Buffet: Are We Alone? The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence”. Further details will be posted here soon.

Bill Preinitz is currently presenting three different sets of Anglo-Saxon lectures. One set is being sponsored by Norwalk Community College Lifelong Learners Institute. The other is hosted by Westport Senior Center. The third is at Fairfield Bigelow Center for Senior Activities. Each lecture is a standalone one so if you missed any, feel free to come midway through any series. Photos are courtesy of Bernie Weiss from NCC Lifelong Learner’s most recent presentation.

Topic: A History of the Anglo-Saxons
Lecturer: Bill Preinitz, Historian, Explorations Lectures LLC
Host: Norwalk Community College - Lifelong Learners Institute
188 Richards Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 857-3330 for registration
Format: In Person Only with slide presentation
When: Thursdays, March 15, 2024 through May 10, 2024
Presentation: 10:10 to 12:10 AM followed by Q & A

Date: March 22, 2024 - Lecture #2 of an 8-part series
Topic: Overview of Early Anglo-Saxon History
The Anglo-Saxons first appeared on the periphery of the British Isles at the time of the Roman withdrawal. Originally appearing as small marauding hit-and-run bands they would, over 400 years, conquer and displace the Celtic kingdoms. They eventually coalesced into seven regional kingdoms and reunified what they called England. Weakened by Nordic incursions they would succumb to two massive simultaneous invasions. This is their story.

Topic: A History of the Anglo-Saxons
Lecturer: Bill Preinitz
Host: Norwalk Community College - Lifelong Learners Institute
188 Richards Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 857-3330 for registration
Format: In Person Only lecture with accompanying slide presentation. Late joiners are welcome.

When: Thursdays, March 15, 2024 through May 10, 2024
Presentation: 10:10 to 12:10 AM followed by Q & A

Presenter: Historian Bill Preinitz
Topic: History of the Anglo-Saxons

Mar 15: Overview of Anglo-Saxon History;
Mar 22: Overview of Early Anglo-Saxon;
Apr 2: The Royal Grave at Sutton Hoo;
Apr 12: The Middle Anglo-Saxon Period – The Age of Alfred the Great;
Apr 19: Defeat of the Vikings: Alfred’s Burg Strategy;
Apr 26: The Late Anglo-Saxon Period: Triumph, Nationhood, and Fall 900 to 1080 CE;
May 3: Downfall! The Year of 1066 – The Norse and Norman Invasions; and,
May 10: Anglo-Saxon History and Archeology in the Laboratory.

Topic: A History of the Anglo-Saxons
Lecturer: Bill Preinitz
Host: Westport Center for Senior Activities
21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
203-341-5099 for registration
Format: In Person Only
When: Thursdays, January 4, 2024 through January 25, 2024
Presentation: 1:00 to 3:00 PM followed by Q & A

Historian Bill Preinitz will present a four-part series from the Roman withdrawal to the formation of England:

Jan 4: Overview of Anglo-Saxon History;
Jan 11: The Period of Chaos and Internal Conflict,
400 CE to 600 CE;
Jan 18: The Royal Grave at Sutton Hoo; and,
Jan 25: History and Archeology in the Laboratory.

Recent lecture series have been in-person and featured the following topics:

-"A Beginner's Guide to the Universe" (Astronomy and Astrophysics) at the Norwalk Community College Lifelong Learners Institute, Norwalk, CT;

-"Hadrian's Wall, Rome's Frontier" at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Fairfield, CT;

-"The Universe-A Wondrous Realm of Dangerous Beauty" (Astronomy and Astrophysics) at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Fairfield, CT;

-"The Hubble Telescope: The Eye On The Universe" at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Fairfield, CT

-"Pacific Theater Of Naval Operations" at Weston Senior Center, Weston CT;

-"Battle of the Atlantic Campaign" at Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Fairfield, CT;

-"The Pacific Theater of Naval Operations" at Weston Senior Center, Weston, CT and,

-"The United States Naval War in the Pacific 1941-1945" at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Fairfield, CT.

Please contact the centers directly if you are interested in registering and attending future events. They typically run six to eight weekly two-hour sessions followed by an open-ended Questions and Answer period. We hope that some of the series in the future will include a hybrid distribution method offering attendance simultaneously in-person and online via Zoom. A description of future lectures will be posted here as they are scheduled.

Topic: The Pearl Harbor Raid
Lecturer: Bill Preinitz
Host: Weston Senior Activities Center and free to the public
When: Thursday, Dec 8, 2022, 1:00 to 2:30 PM
Q & A: 2:30 to 3:00 PM
Presentation: The zoom link is below. This concludes our five-part lecture series on the Pacific Campaign.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81709521405

The Pearl Harbor Raid was a catastrophic event for the USN in the Pacific and the country as a whole. It was a calculated high-risk strategy that Japan hoped could trigger a negotiated end to hostilities avoiding the need for a Long War scenario.
Failing this, it was hoped to delay a meaningful American response for 12-18 months. This period would allow Japan to extensively prepare and uninterruptedly exploit the oil and mineral resources of its conquered territories. Meticulously planned and practiced for, it failed in several key regards. It did, however, undeniably illustrate a new naval strategy, the use of multiple aircraft carriers operating
together. Unfortunately for them, it was one the USN later adopted to stunning effect…

Topic: The Submarine War Against Japan
Lecturer: Bill Preinitz
Host: Weston Senior Activities Center
When: Thursday, Dec 1, 2022, 1:00 to 2:30 PM Q & A: 2:30 to 3:00 PM
Presentation: The zoom link is below. This and the remaining lectures will be given in person at the center simultaneously every week on Thursdays, through Dec 8, 2022:
Dec 1, 2022, 01:00 PM
Dec 8, 2022, 01:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81709521405

This lecture is free and open to all ages of the public. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested in attending.

The USN fought the only successful submarine anti-commerce campaign in the course of World War II. From modest origins and obsolescent boats plagued by horrendous torpedo malfunctions, it emerged to cripple the third largest merchant marine
service in the world. As the war grew in scope and numbers, the Silent Service, not only crippled the Imperial Japan cargo fleet it also branched out into many other vital services Chief among these was pilot search and rescue, a majority of the time under direct
enemy fire. In this role, they rescued over 500 downed aircrews. The lecture will trace one of the most unique forces in U.S. military history.