MALVERN, Pa. — Penn State Great Valley and Penn State at the Navy Yard’s educational webinar series, NoonTimeU, will return next week. NoonTimeU began last year as in-person talks at the Navy Yard; the event series shifted to webinars in mid-April and covers a variety of topics to help with personal and professional development.

The fall series kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 24, with “Skin We Are in… Evolution of Skin Color,” where Penn State anthropologist Nina Jablonski will explore the origins of differing skin colors, their importance to our health, and how this research fits into anthropological history.

October features two NoonTimeU webinars. First, Rachel Valletta, environmental scientist for The Franklin Institute, will explore the link between the COVID-19 and climate change crises, what climate change means for us and our families’ well-being, and what we can do about it.

Later, Sharon Ann Holt, associate teaching professor of history at Penn State Abington, will discuss the history of the Electoral College, how your vote contributes to the popular and electoral vote, and the pros and cons of the system.

The fall series ends in November, when Eric Stein, associate professor of management science and information systems and founder of e3garden, discusses how to get started with hydroponic gardening, the method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water.

All events will begin at noon and will be presented via Zoom. For more information and to register, click here.