
Lower Columbia College
Community Conversations
Free Presentation/Discussion Series
Community Conversations discussion series examines a current topic each quarter during the academic year (Fall and Spring). Attendance is open to the public. There is no charge to attend. Presenters are LCC faculty and local community and business representatives. Students may receive credit by enrolling in Humanities 106 (Community Conversations).
Community Conversations will resume in Fall Quarter 2025
All events are located on campus in LCC HSB 101
Thursdays, 11:30am-12:20pm AND available to watch on Zoom (Learn more about using Zoom)
Attendance is free and open to the public.
View this quarter's conversation schedule below
Fall Quarter 2025
My Autism: Journey & Knowledge
Gillis Williams will explore what autism is and how we can spread acceptance and awareness of the spectrum community.
Rocky Mountains Justice: Fictional Lawmen of the Northern Rockies
How do sheriffs enforce laws and maintain peace in counties across Montana and Wyoming, which are often larger than many states in the East? Solving murders, combating organized crime, and managing encounters with wildlife are just a part of the job in the Northern Rockies. Discover books featuring characters like Walt Longmire, Joe Pickett, Chick Charlston, and the law enforcement personnel of Glacier National Park.
Why We Procrastinate: I’ll Tell You in a Minute
We know procrastination can hold us back, but we still do it. Why? Join us for an
eye-opening session as we explore the surprising roots of procrastination and discover
practical ways to overcome it. You’re not lazy— you’re human! This is one thing you’ll
be glad you didn’t put off.
Will the Real Shakespeare Please Stand Up?
Was the Bard a literary genius—or the face of a carefully crafted deception? Among the many suspects, one name rises above the rest—noble, mysterious, and hidden in plain sight. Join the investigation into the greatest conspiracy in literary history. If Shakespeare didn’t write the plays… who did?
Silent Pleas—the Making of a Mystery
In "Silent Pleas—the Making of a Mystery", Mary Stone will discuss the essential elements of a mystery novel. Applying these must-haves, the author will read from her recent novel, Silent Pleas, to demonstrate these fundamentals as the story unfolds in a mansion along Lake Sacajawea.
Digging for Truth: Fact, Fiction, and the Fringes of Archaeology
Lost Ice Age civilizations? Ancient alien technology? Are mainstream archaeologists hiding the truth about our past? Shows like Netflix's Ancient Apocalypse have helped popularize "alternative histories" of humanity's past. But are they accurate? Join us as we dig for the truth, exploring the exciting world of archaeology and the alluring "what-ifs" of pseudoarchaeology. Come uncover the real—and even more fascinating—mysteries that science is still working to solve.
Wild Speculation: Pacific Crest Trail Curiosities
Can I eat that? What else can duct tape fix? What does it mean when the Yeti meter is set to medium? Why is that saddle in a tree? Away from the quick answers of the internet, wilderness adventures raise our curiosity. We speculate wildly, and sometimes even come to viscerally understand the mystery of weird baby footprints, Schrodinger’s cat, and the Ship of Theseus.
The Silent Mystery: Understanding Male Depression
Depression doesn’t always look like sadness—especially in men. This lecture will uncover how depression manifests differently in males across the lifespan, why it so often goes unnoticed, and how its hidden nature contributes to staggering suicide rates.
To arrange accommodation for a disability, please contact Disability and Access Services at disability@lowercolumbia.edu or 360-442-2341.
For more information, go to lowercolumbia.edu/conversations
LCC is an AA/EEO employer -- lowercolumbia.edu/aae-eo
Contact Community Conversations
Courtney Shah/Social Science Instructor
Need Disability Accommodation?
To arrange accommodation for a disablity call (360) 442 - 2341