2026 Presentations & Courses
Islands & Archipelagos - The Nature • The People • The Heritage
Thursdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon - Online Class from January 15 to February 19, 2026 - Simon Fraser University
Join Peter Langer and larn about some of our planet’s most remote islands and archipelagos from the Arctic to Antarctica. Discover a host of unique cultures that inhabit many islands of the world, as island people are often isolated from mainlanders and from one another by the sea.
CONTENTS
Week 1: Arctic Ocean Islands
Starting in Canada, we explore some remote locations on Baffin Island, seabird colonies in Digges Island and get close-up views of walruses and polar bears at Walrus Island in Nunavut Territory. Visit then discover Disko Bay, Qeqertarsuaq and the Ilulissat Icefjord on Greenland’s West coast, and Scoresby Sound on Greenland’s East coast. We conclude in Svalbard, formerly called Spitzbergen, a Norwegian archipelago situated about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole.
Week 2: Islands around Europe
In the North Atlantic Ocean, we explore Iceland, where we will see Reykjavík and Þingvellir National Park where the oldest parliament in the world, met regularly from 930 to 1798. Marvel at Iceland’s many waterfalls and the geysers of Geysir and the Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago, We then head to the Eastern Mediterranean to visit Cyprus, where we will explore Nicosia, Famagusta, Choirokoitia and the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region. We conclude in Malta, discovering some ancient neolithic sites such as Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. We the explore the capital Valletta and the historical city of Mdina and the island of Gozo.
Weeks 3 and 4: Indian Ocean Islands
We start our Indian Ocean journey on the island of Zanzibar, one of the most important Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. We then head to Madagascar, often referred to as the “Eighth Continent”. The island’s legendary uniqueness is best reflected by its plethora of amazing lemurs, colourful chameleons, many endemic bird species, and a fascinating array of endemic flora, all of which combine to make for a truly exceptional photo safari. We then head to Mauritius, an island featuring unique cultural landscapes and Rodrigues, a volcanic island rising from the Mascarene Plateau. We conclude in Sri Lanka, an island country that features ancient Buddhist monuments, welcoming people, dense jungle, cool highlands and idyllic tropical coast. We will explore Colombo, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. We then head to the verdant highlands of Nuwara Eliya, home of some beautiful tea plantations. We then explore the Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions.
Weeks 5 and 6: Islands of the Coasts of South America & Antarctica
We begin with a visit to the San Blas Islands of Panama, a haven for ecotourism because of its pristine environs along the Caribbean coast of Panama. We then travel to the notorious prisons of Devil’s Island off the coast of French Guiana. Then we see the amazing natural wonders and unusual animal life of the Galapagos Islands, followed by a visit to the archaeological remains on Rapa Nui, the indigenous name of Easter Island, and see the enormous stone figures known as moai, which created a unique cultural landscape that continues to fascinate people throughout the world. We then head to the remote landscapes of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn in Patagonia, the Diego Ramirez Islands, South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Outline some of our planets most important islands.
- Identify different kinds of island habitats around the globe.
- Get insights about unusual places
- Receive and accurate travel information.
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How You Will Learn
- Participation in Zoom seminars
- Enjoy stunning multi-image musical video presentations
- Participation in written discussions with other students
- Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)
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Remarkable Cities of the World - Part 2
Tuesdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon - Online Class from January 13 to February 17 2026 - Simon Fraser University
Join us for six virtual adventures through more of the world’s most remarkable cities. We’ll explore stunning urban landscapes; learn about the UNESCO World Heritage sites they contain; and discover an amazing diversity of peoples and cultures. Each week we will view a multi-image presentation that evokes the incredible beauty of each city. We’ll discuss sightseeing highlights, curious anecdotes and some of the secrets each place has to offer. Potential travellers to these cities will gain a useful, deeper understanding of their subtleties.
CONTENTS
Week 1: Barcelona, Spain
We explore Barcelona, the capital and largest city of Catalonia and Spain's second largest city,
This city, located directly on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, features a has a rich history since Carthaginian times. We wonder around the Ciutat Vella featuring one the best-preserved Gothic quarters in Europe. We will also the whimsical architecture created by Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Week 2: Esfahan, Iran
Esfahan is known for its Persian–Muslim architecture, grand boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, tiled mosques, and minarets. We will discover “Half the World” as we enjoy the beauty of Persian Gardens, admire masterpieces of Islamic architecture, amazing bazaars and stunning Armenian churches located in the city . Along the way you will discover the real Iran, home of a warm and fascinating people living within an ancient and sophisticated culture.
Week 3: Hanoi, Vietnam
The speed with which Vietnam has been able to transcend the recent past comes as a surprise to visitors who visit its capital, Hanoi. The city is alternately bustling and tranquil, and its food is a destination unto itself. We will visit Ho Chi Minh’s house, the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university. We will wonder around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and watch a traditional water puppet show. We will explore the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the nearby World Heritage sites of Ha Long Bay and the Trang An Landscape Complex.
Week 4: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an important centre for classical Javanese fine arts and culture such as batik textiles, gamelan music visual arts, and wayang puppetry. Here we will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and ancient Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, the Hindu Prambanan Temple Compounds, The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks and the nearby Sangiran Early Man Site.
Week 5: La Paz, Bolivia
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. While three centuries of Spanish colonial rule have left their mark on Bolivia's language, religion and architecture, this European influence is no more than a thin veneer overlying Indigenous cultural traditions that stretch back to long before the conquest. We will also explore Sacred Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world; the city of Tiwanaku, capital of a powerful pre-Hispanic empire that dominated a large area of the southern Andes between 500 and 900 CE and the Salar de Uyuni the largest salt flat (dry lake bed) in the world.
Week 6: Santiago, Chile
Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago has served as the capital city of Chile since colonial times. We explore the downtown core characterized by 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side streets with a mix of Art Deco, Gothic Revival, and other styles. Santiago's cityscape is defined by several standalone hills and the fast-flowing Mapocho River, which starts high up in the Andes Mountains, which are visible from most parts of the city. We will discover renowned vineyards and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Describe ways in which history, tradition and modernity intertwine to create the vibrancy of these cities
- Identify several UNESCO World Heritage sites within these cities
- Appreciate the incredible diversity within each of these remarkable cities
- Get insights useful to travellers
How You Will Learn
- Participation in Zoom seminars
- Enjoy stunning multi-image musical video presentations
- Participation in written discussions with other students
- Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)