Besides, one and a half hours isn't a lot of time to cover an entire academic subject, says Rotch Professor of Atmospheric Science Michael B. McElroy. "We're try to cover the origin of life, new evolutionary theory and the more recent meterological past of the earth. To do the entire earth and life in an hour and a half is quite a feat."

For Non-Academic Audiences

Since the symposia are aimed at a non-academic audience, many of the panelists say they view the forums as the chance to discuss interests which are not usually addressed in regular courses.

For example, "Contrasting Approaches to the Interpretation of the United States Constitution" will feature an area of law which normal law courses don't focus on, says moderator Archibald Cox '34, Loeb University Professor Emeritus. "No law school course concentrates on the theories of constitutional interpretation," Cox says. "The discussion of theory runs through the specific courses, but [it is] not addressed as directly [as it will be] in this forum."

And Dillion Professor of International Affairs Joseph S. Nye says that symposia, like his on nuclear weapons, offer a chance to take a long range approach to world change. "[It] will be a little less 'current-eventsy' than most normal [Kennedy School] events," Nye says.

Organizers say they hope the seminars will also give participants the opportunity to take a new look at familiar areas of study.

According to Peabody Professor of Music Lewis H. Lockwood who coordinated the arts-related seminars, they were "designed to move people out of established patterns of thinking and help them understand how professionals think about their field."

The University is using the symposia "to say to its family 'here's what the present understanding is in a wide array of subjects,'" says Gamble Professor of Population Sciences David E. Bell who will lead the symposium entitled "Population Change in Today's World." Bell comments about his seminar, "We're not attempting to impress the scholars of the world or indicate what the reseach frontiers are."

Epoch-making or not, the symposia will uncover new turf for even the most experienced professor. "I don't think [my symposium] will be completely old hat to people who have some familiarity with the field," Carman says.

Many seminars will have lengthy discussion periods designed to give people the opportunity to voice more complicated concerns. Professor of Chinese Literature Patrick D. Hanan says that although his symposium, "Contemporary China: Intellectual and Literary Issues," will "have the broad range of a general education course, the panel includes the leading experts who can answer the special, detailed questions."

While some of the seminars, like the one entitled "Genes and Cancer," do focus on the cutting edge of research, organizers say that it is unlikely that many panelists will be announcing new discoveries and theories.

"You are more likely to hear a new synthesis of older ideas and receive a larger picture than is available elsewhere," says McElroy.

One exception to the rule will be Mills' symposium, entitled "People in American Business: Current and Future Issues in the Workplace." Mills plans to announce new results from his ongoing study of workers in technological fields.

Many particpants laud the University's effort to reach beyond the academic world. "It's very constructive. Harvard has a responsibility to communicate more widely than just the academic world," says D. Quinn Mills, Weatherhead Professor of Business Administration.

Amidst all the glitz and hoopla of the 350th celebration, many participants praise the symposia for celebrating what Harvard does best, academics. "It is exactly right for the University to present what it usually does. This way [the 350th celebration] is not just a party," says Lockwood.

An enlightening educational experience, however, may not be the only thing people are looking for in the symposia. Although all the symposia are sold-out, the first one to run out of tickets was "The Future of the City," the only seminar which Charles, Prince of Wales, plans to attend.