Events and Celebrations
Recurring Events
Upcoming Events
Early Spring Bird Banding II
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
SEES Grad Defense: Austin Shaffer - MS Defense - "A new crocodylian from the Eocene (Ypresian) of Wyoming (Greater Green River Basin, USA) and the origins of Longirostres"
Early Spring Bird Banding III
Trivia Night @ the Museum
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
Levitt Lecture | Sandra Sawatzky
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.
Sustainability Case Competition
SEES Grad Defense: Michelle Wikner - MS Defense - "Enrichment of Rare Earth Elements in Cretaceous Clays of the lower Dakota Formation in Northwest Iowa"
Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar
Brad Pleima, President of EcoEngineers and Clean Energy Advocate, will be presenting, The Next Climate Economy: Careers, Capital, and Innovation.
Sustainability Case Competition
Earth Day with SEES!
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
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
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...
Free Market
The Free Market is like a campus garage sale and is an opportunity for students to donate or take items, free of charge. Items include clothing, books, small decor, and anything that isn't electronic. Hosted by the Environmental Coalition student organization (@envirocoalition_iowa)
Garlic Mustard Pull and Cleanup
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...
Free Market
The Free Market is like a campus garage sale and is an opportunity for students to donate or take items, free of charge. Items include clothing, books, small decor, and anything that isn't electronic. Hosted by the Environmental Coalition student organization (@envirocoalition_iowa)
Mid-Spring Bird Banding I
Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF)
EnCo x Bijou Screening of Soylent Green
Join both the Environmental Coalition and Bijou Film Board for a screening of the sci-fi movie, Soylent Green, at Filmscene!
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival
Blooming Plants: How to Care for Plants and Greenery
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
This drop-in crafting activity will immediately follow “Blooming Plants,” a workshop where local experts will talk about basic plant care.
SEES:7000 Colloquium - Casey Helgeson (Penn State University) - "Transdisciplinary Research Through the Lens of Values"
EnCo x DIRT Volunteering with Earthmind
Join the Environmental Coalition, DIRT, and Earthmind for a volunteering event at Robert A. Lee Rec Center's edible/community garden!
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival
Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0
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.
Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar
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
Miyawaki Forest Tree Planting 2.0
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.
4th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Fairport Fish Hatchery
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...
Trash Crawl
Competing in groups to pick up the most amount of trash possible around different areas of campus, beginning at the Main Library Plaza. Hosted by the Environmental Coalition student organization (@envirocoalition_iowa)
Recycled Runway
Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival
Mid-Spring Bird Banding II
Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar
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
Environmental Engineering and Science Graduate Seminar
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
Bike to Work Week Breakfast & Bike Registration
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...