The Mind and Memory: Exploring Creativity in the Arts and Sciences course begins this month at Cornell University and runs through April. This annual course, the brainchild of Cornell emeritus professor and author James McConkey, features weekly lectures by distinguished members of the Cornell faculty and other creative people from a wide range of disciplines. Lectures are Mondays from 2:55 to 4:10 p.m. in 155 Olin Hall and are free and open to the public.

This year's speakers and their topics are:

• Jan. 21: Sandra Steingraber, visiting assistant professor of biology and poet – "Breaking Taboos: Writing about Birth and Death."
• Jan. 28: Richard Schechner, A. D. White Professor-at-Large, theater director and theorist – "Performance Practice/Performance Theory."
• Feb. 4: Virginia Utermohlen, associate professor of nutrition – "crEATING: How Eating Becomes Creating."
• Feb. 11: Barbara Page, Ithaca-based freelance painter -- "Killing Time and Creating Space."
• Feb. 18: James Maas, professor of psychology -- "Do you want to know the secret of life?"
• Feb. 25 : Charles Trautmann, Ithaca Sciencecenter director and adjunct associate professor – "Inspiring Youth Through Science."
• March 4: Jim Self, senior lecturer in theatre, film and dance – "THE BODY and THE BODY of WORK: Posing the Question."
• March 11: Michael Spivey, assistant professor of psychology – "Creativity Within the Constraints of Cognitive Science."
• March 25: Bill T. Jones, the celebrated American choreographer – "The Delirious Engine: How and Why, Why and How?"
• April 1: Sheila Danko, associate professor of design – "MLK Jr. Memorial Design Competition Entry."
• April 8: Paula Horrigan, associate professor of landscape architecture – "Creating Landscapes: Real and Imagined."
• April 15: Kenneth McClane, professor of English and poet – "What I'm Not."
• April 22: to be announced.
• April 29: Katy Payne, visiting fellow, Laboratory of Ornithology – "Listening to Elephants."

For more information on Mind and Memory, contact course leader Joyce Morgenroth at jdm9@cornell.edu or (607) 254-2744, or Bruce Levitt, faculty chair of the Cornell Council for the Arts, at bal5@cornell.edu or (607) 254-2739.