Recurring Events

Upcoming Events

Early Spring Bird Banding II promotional image

Early Spring Bird Banding II

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding

SEES:7000 Colloquium - Rhawn Denniston (Cornell College) - Distinguished Alumni Talk - "A high-resolution last millennium bushfire reconstruction from tropical Australian stalagmites"

Thursday, April 9, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Visual Arts Building
SEES:7000 Colloquium - Rhawn Denniston (Cornell College) - Distinguished Alumni Talk - "A high-resolution last millennium bushfire reconstruction from tropical Australian stalagmites"
Protecting Water, Protecting Community: Short Films & Dialogue on Indigenous Land and Water Defense promotional image

Protecting Water, Protecting Community: Short Films & Dialogue on Indigenous Land and Water Defense

Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

Join us for an evening of short films and community conversation exploring movements to protect water, land, and community.

The program will feature a curated selection of short films highlighting water protection movements in the Midwest, and beyond. Following the screenings, Dakota elder and historian Tim Mentz Sr. and Sikowis Nobiss, a Plains Cree/Saulteaux citizen of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and the founder and executive director of the Great Plains Action Society, will...

Who Defends the Defenders? Exploring layers of sovereignty, legitimacy, human rights, and activism in land and environmental protection  promotional image

Who Defends the Defenders? Exploring layers of sovereignty, legitimacy, human rights, and activism in land and environmental protection

Friday, April 10, 2026 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Boyd Law Building

Across the globe, Indigenous people who oppose large-scale development projects face harassment, wrongful arrest and prosecution, and, in some cases, lethal violence. In 2024 alone, more than 150 environmental defenders were reportedly killed in circumstances linked to their work against powerful commercial and government interests. Under international human rights law, many “frontline” defenders, who disproportionately come from poor, Indigenous, and rural communities, are recognized as vital...

Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar

Friday, April 10, 2026 12:30pm to 1:20pm
Levitt Center for University Advancement

True Distinguished Lecture by Greg Lowry, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

Greg Lowry is a Hamershlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is an executive and associate editor of the ACS Journal Environmental Science & Technology. His environmental nanotechnology and chemistry research aims to improve the efficiency and resilience of crop agriculture, environmental remediation, and water treatment. He will be presenting, Soft...

Sustainability Alumni Career Panel Discussion promotional image

Sustainability Alumni Career Panel Discussion

Friday, April 10, 2026 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Becker Communication Studies Building

The Office of Sustainability and the Environment is excited to announce an Alumni Panel event on Friday, April 10th at 3:00 pm in 101 BSCB! The panel will feature alumni from environmental-related programs speaking about their career and educational experiences.

Panelists Include:

Ian Dunbar, Director of Place Management for the Iowa City Downtown District, Studied Environmental Policy and Planning

Mae McDonough, Program Coordinator for the Tippie Social Impact Community, Studied Environmental...

Sustainability Student Hangout promotional image

Sustainability Student Hangout

Friday, April 10, 2026 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Lagoon Shelter House

Join us for a relaxing evening by the river celebrating community, the outdoors, and all things sustainability! Students who love being outside are invited to hang out, meet new people, and enjoy simple outdoor fun.

We’ll have:

Snacks on the fire pit

Slacklining

Hammocking

Hacky sack + lawn games

Sustainability‑focused orgs and campus departments

Learn about outdoor programs, environmental opportunities, and ways to get involved, all while relaxing at one of campus’s most beautiful outdoor spots.

Collaborative Embroidery promotional image

Collaborative Embroidery

Saturday, April 11, 2026 11:00am to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Join the Cross Stitch and Embroidery Club for an immersive stitching session right in the heart of the galleries. Explore the 220-foot hand-embroidered narrative of the exhibition The Black Gold Tapestry as you witness the meticulous process behind the medium.

Visitors are invited to contribute and leave their mark on this collaborative community embroidery project led by the club’s executive board. All skill levels are welcome, no experience is required, and all supplies are provided. Come add...

In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning Science Writer & Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert promotional image

In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning Science Writer & Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert

Saturday, April 11, 2026 6:00pm
Voxman Music Building
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning Science Writer & Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert as she shares her most important pieces about climate change and the natural world.
Early Spring Bird Banding III promotional image

Early Spring Bird Banding III

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding
Trivia Night @ the Museum promotional image

Trivia Night @ the Museum

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Old Capitol Museum
The very popular Trivia Night @ the Museum inside the historic Senate Chamber at the Old Capitol Museum is back!

SEES:7000 Colloquium - Yagmur Derin (UI College of Engineering ) - "From Sensors to Ensembles: Precipitation Science for Extreme Weather and Flood Resilience"

Thursday, April 16, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Visual Arts Building
SEES:7000 Colloquium - Yagmur Derin (UI College of Engineering ) - "From Sensors to Ensembles: Precipitation Science for Extreme Weather and Flood Resilience"
Teaching and Learning Outside: Showcase and Roundtable promotional image

Teaching and Learning Outside: Showcase and Roundtable

Thursday, April 16, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Lagoon Shelter House
Join this interactive conversation with Living Labs at Iowa to explore campus sites and gain inspiration from examples of experiential learning outdoors.
Levitt Lecture | Sandra Sawatzky promotional image

Levitt Lecture | Sandra Sawatzky

Thursday, April 16, 2026 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Canadian artist, filmmaker, and environmentalist Sandra Sawatzky will be in Iowa City to speak about her monumental 220-foot, hand-embroidered narrative, The Black Gold Tapestry, currently on view at the Stanley Museum of Art.

Sawatzky will share details of the nine-year process behind the creation this intricate masterpiece that traces the global history of oil. UI faculty members, Hope Tucker (Associate Professor, Cinematic Arts) and R. Tyler Priest (Associate Professor, History) will join...

Earth Day Performance: Jim Swim & Daniel Xavier & Co. promotional image

Earth Day Performance: Jim Swim & Daniel Xavier & Co.

Thursday, April 16, 2026 7:30pm to 10:00pm
Trumpet Blossom Cafe
SCOPE: Earth Day Show with Jim Swim and Daniel.Xavier & Co.

Sustainability Case Competition

Friday, April 17 to Saturday, April 18, 2026 (all day)
Pappajohn Business Building
The Tippie Sustainability Case Competition will challenge teams of UI undergraduate students to integrate knowledge from business and sustainability disciplines to solve a real sustainability challenge facing organizations today.

Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar

Friday, April 17, 2026 1:30pm to 2:20pm
Seamans Center

Brad Pleima, President of EcoEngineers and Clean Energy Advocate, will be presenting, The Next Climate Economy: Careers, Capital, and Innovation.

Sustainability Case Competition

Saturday, April 18, 2026 (all day)
Pappajohn Business Building
The Tippie Sustainability Case Competition will challenge teams of UI undergraduate students to integrate knowledge from business and sustainability disciplines to solve a real sustainability challenge facing organizations today.

Earth Day with SEES!

Saturday, April 18, 2026 10:00am to 2:00pm
Trowbridge Hall

The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability will host an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18, from 10 AM to 2 PM in Trowbridge Hall. The day’s events will include hands-on-exhibits and demonstrations about Earth processes, the environment, and policies. Everyone is welcome!

Earth Day Celebration hosted by Hawkeye Area Council, Scouting America promotional image

Earth Day Celebration hosted by Hawkeye Area Council, Scouting America

Saturday, April 18, 2026 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Camp Wakonda, Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation

You're invited to the 4th annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18!

Join us on Earth Day for an afternoon of interactive and educational fun! Various organizations will host booths to spread environmental awareness, including the Iowa Flood Center and their watershed model. This free event, hosted at the Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation, is open to the public and anyone in the Scouting community.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sustainability Lecture Series: Land Use, Policy, and Climate Innovation promotional image

Sustainability Lecture Series: Land Use, Policy, and Climate Innovation

Monday, April 20, 2026 11:30am
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

The Sustainability Lecture Series is an interdisciplinary forum of practicing professionals. The conversation will demonstrate real work in land use planning, environmental governance, and climate innovation to help students understand how their future careers can impact sustainability. The panelists cover a broad range of expertise from Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, and Law.

Participants will:

· Understand sustainability as a systems issue

· Recognize the link between land use and climate...

Garlic Mustard Pull and Cleanup promotional image

Garlic Mustard Pull and Cleanup

Monday, April 20, 2026 3:30pm to 5:30pm
University of Iowa Arboretum

Join us in caring for the Campus Arboretum! Help remove invasive garlic mustard and pick up litter to keep our natural spaces healthy and beautiful. This hands-on event is a great way to support campus sustainability, enjoy time outdoors, and learn more about local ecosystems. The cleanup will take place in the wooded area on the northeast side of the Hancher footbridge.

Please wear closed‑toe shoes and long pants for safety. Gloves will be provided, and no prior experience is needed, just bring...

Mid-Spring Bird Banding I promotional image

Mid-Spring Bird Banding I

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding
Earth Day at Seamans Center promotional image

Earth Day at Seamans Center

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Seamans Center

Details TBD

Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF) promotional image

Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF)

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 3:30pm to 6:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
The Office of Undergraduate Research's Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF) is held in celebration and recognition of undergraduate researchers' contributions to research, scholarly, and creative work at the University of Iowa.
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival promotional image

Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival

Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26, 2026 (all day)
Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building
The Iowa City International Film Festival is a student-run experimental film festival hosted in Iowa City.
Blooming Plants: How to Care for Plants and Greenery promotional image

Blooming Plants: How to Care for Plants and Greenery

Thursday, April 23, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Sciences Library
Join Erin Irish, associate professor in biology at the University of Iowa, and Johnson County Master Gardeners Lavon Yeggy, Angela Murphy, and Marge Jensen to learn about the basics of plant care. Free and open to all. Beginners welcomed.


Drop in for a free workshop to design and decorate your own Chia Plant Buddy after the “Blooming Plants” program!
Chia Buddies: Create Your Own Study Buddy promotional image

Chia Buddies: Create Your Own Study Buddy

Thursday, April 23, 2026 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Sciences Library
Design and decorate your own Chia Plant Buddy to take home with you! Free and open to all.



This drop-in crafting activity will immediately follow “Blooming Plants,” a workshop where local experts will talk about basic plant care.
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival promotional image

Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival

Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26, 2026 (all day)
Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building
The Iowa City International Film Festival is a student-run experimental film festival hosted in Iowa City.
Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0 promotional image

Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0

Friday, April 24, 2026 1:00pm to 4:00pm
College of Public Health Building

Join us for the Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0 as we kick off our project on Arbor Day, Friday, April 24 This exciting initiative aims to plant 2,000 native tree saplings and shrubs using the Miyawaki Method, a technique for densely planting native trees to create bio-diverse and self-sustaining forests.

Getting There:

Planting will take place on the southeast corner of the College of Public Health.

Parking is limited, so we recommend using public transportation or carpooling.

Newton Road Parking...

Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar

Friday, April 24, 2026 1:30pm to 2:20pm
Seamans Center

Todd DeJournett, Project Director at SCS Engineers-Water and Wastewater Process Design, will be presenting, Designing for Uncertainty-Deterministic Solutions to Stochastic Problems.

Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival promotional image

Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival

Saturday, April 25 to Sunday, April 26, 2026 (all day)
Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building
The Iowa City International Film Festival is a student-run experimental film festival hosted in Iowa City.
Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0 promotional image

Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am to 2:00pm
College of Public Health Building

Join us for the Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0 as we kick off our project on Arbor Day, Friday, April 24 This exciting initiative aims to plant 2,000 native tree saplings and shrubs using the Miyawaki Method, a technique for densely planting native trees to create bio-diverse and self-sustaining forests.

Getting There:

Planting will take place on the southeast corner of the College of Public Health.

Parking is limited, so we recommend using public transportation or carpooling.

Newton Road Parking...

4th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Fairport Fish Hatchery promotional image

4th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Fairport Fish Hatchery

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am to 3:00pm
LACMRERS

Join us for the 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration!

Explore, discover, and win prizes, including events like the Great Hatchery Treasure Hunt! Join us for a family-friendly adventure; follow the trails, explore the grounds, and discover hidden “treasures” inspired by the hatchery’s natural habitats, living waters, and rich history of this unique Mississippi River landmark. Bring your curiosity, enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River landscape, and see what treasures you uncover!

Baby fish

Live...

Recycled Runway promotional image

Recycled Runway

Saturday, April 25, 2026 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Old Capitol Museum
The University of Iowa’s Sustainable Events class presents the 4th Annual Recycled Runway at the historic Old Capitol Museum and you’re invited!
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival promotional image

Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival

Sunday, April 26, 2026 (all day)
Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building
The Iowa City International Film Festival is a student-run experimental film festival hosted in Iowa City.
Mid-Spring Bird Banding II promotional image

Mid-Spring Bird Banding II

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding

Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar

Friday, May 1, 2026 1:30pm to 2:20pm
Seamans Center

Amy Burgin, Chair and Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, will be presenting, Aquatic Ecosystems in the Anthropocene: Understanding Human-Driven Changes and Implications for Water Quality.

Mid-Spring Bird Banding III promotional image

Mid-Spring Bird Banding III

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding

Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar

Friday, May 8, 2026 1:30pm to 2:20pm
Seamans Center

Ashley Pasakarnis, Account Manager, Project Engineer, Braun Intertec, Urbandale, Iowa, will be presenting, Two EES Grad Students Walk Into a Bar: The (un)expected Paths of an EES Graduate Degree – 20 Years On.

Late Spring Bird Banding I promotional image

Late Spring Bird Banding I

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding

Bike to Work Week Breakfast & Bike Registration

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 7:30am to 9:00am
Seamans Center

Unpark Yourself: Bike to Work Week Breakfast

Breakfast burritos, fruit, coffee, and juice will be provided by the Engineering Staff Advisory Council and College of Education. You can also register your bike with Campus Safety and learn about bike safety. 

May 11–17 is Bike to Work Week. We are encouraging those who can, to leave your car at home and use alternative means of commuting to campus, such as biking, public transportation, car-pooling, UI van pool, and walking. Come and learn—all are...

Late Spring Bird Banding II promotional image

Late Spring Bird Banding II

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding
Late Spring Bird Banding III promotional image

Late Spring Bird Banding III

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 7:30am to 9:30am
Macbride Nature Recreation Area - Falcon Shelter
Early Spring Bird Banding
6th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory promotional image

6th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Saturday, July 11, 2026 9:00am to 11:00am
Ashton Cross Country Course

What types of plants, animals, and fungal life might you find at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory? Let's find out! 

Join researchers in collecting, observing, and recording biodiversity at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory in our 6th Annual BioBlitz. Your findings will inform a major research project and will contribute to the fifth data point in a multi-year documentation of how diversity changes at this site over time. Collections will be housed with the UI Museum of Natural History...

Science & Health Connections Fair: Employers, Graduate Programs, Medical Schools

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

Students will Explore + Connect with:

Life science, health science & sustainability companies

Internship/full-time positions

Graduate and service programs and medical schools

Research and volunteer opportunities

Check-in at International Ballroom Lobby in Iowa Memorial Union.

Bring your Student ID, copies of your résumé and Dress for Success!