Dispatches from a Solarpunk Future: Combining Art & Science to Solve the Climate Crisis
2023-09-28 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Event Venue | Haley Center – Room 2182
As the climate emergency continues to intensify, much of the public & institutional response to mounting disaster remains stalemated. Perhaps this is the result of nihilist framing of the crisis by activists, media, & scientists, a paradigm often referred to as `climate doomerism’.
The emerging solarpunk movement–which includes the work of artists, writers, philosophers, and scientists–can provide an alternative, post-nihilistic, pathway for actualizing solutions to climate change. There exists, therefore, an exciting & necessary opportunity for scientists to collaborate with artists to not only improve the communication of climate science, but also to bolster the production of scientific knowledge.
Dr. Tosca will present the results of several collaborative projects—inspired by that work—that combine the scientific method with design and art-making processes. These ‘solarpunk’ approaches synthesize art and science toward imagining (and building) a more optimistic future. Sharing that we need more of these types of approaches if we are ever going to inspire our collective imaginations and solve the climate crisis in time.
Dr. Tosca currently serves as a climate scientist and an Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her current research and public outreach explores the the synthesis of art and climate science and posits that engaging with artists, designers, and makers is instrumental to solving the climate crisis. Her visit to Auburn is sponsored by the Auburn National Science Foundation Research Traineeship, the Department of Geosciences, and the Office of Sustainability.

Pop In, Pump Up, & Win - Cycle September
2023-09-29 13:30 - 14:30 | Event Venue | Auburn Outdoors, United States
Pop in on your bike or on foot to join Auburn Outdoors and the Auburn University Cycling Advisory Committee for popcorn, games, a top-off on your bike tires, and prize drawings all to celebrate Cycle September! We can also learn about the AO Bike Shop, bike rentals, and bike trips. All those in attendance will receive an extra entry into Auburn’s Cycle September prize drawings!
You can learn more about Cycle September at aub.ie/cycle.

Taiwan Center Calligraphy Class
2023-10-24 12:00 - 12:50 | Event Venue | Foy Hall, 282 W Thach Concourse, Auburn, 36849
Join the Taiwan Center for a culture class to learn about calligraphy! Registration is due by October 20, 2023, and the class is limited to 10 people. The class will be in Room 209 in Foy Hall.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Taiwan Center Knotting Class
2023-11-09 12:00 - 12:50 | Event Venue | Foy Hall, 282 W Thach Concourse, Auburn, 36849
Join the Taiwan Center for a culture class to learn about knotting! Registration is due by November 3, 2023, and the class is limited to 10 people. The class will be in Room 209 in Foy Hall.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Plant Ahead: A Tree Planting Event - POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 1 DUE TO WEATHER
2024-01-25 14:30 - 16:30 | Event Venue | Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, United States
ANNOUNCEMENT: TREE PLANTING MOVED TO FEBRUARY 1 AT SAME TIME AND PLACE DUE TO WEATHER
Come join the Office of Sustainability and the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center for Plant Ahead: A Tree Planting Event. Volunteers are invited to come plant trees at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center! Together, we will learn about forestry practices, Alabama’s native flora, and how to properly plant trees while enjoying the beautiful outdoor scenery and wildlife of the preserve. A short information session will precede the event!
Work will be physical so volunteers should wear clothing that will protect the legs, clothes you do not mind getting dirty, and closed-toed shoes. A water cooler will be present, so please bring a refillable water bottle. Additionally, volunteers should bring gloves, if available. Tools and some gloves will be available. Registration is requested, but not required, prior to the event. For an event reminder and to help spread the word, RSVP for the PLANt Ahead event on Facebook. Students can register on the Office of Sustainability GivePulse. Waivers will be signed on site.
We will meet in the parking lot at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. Please join us on Thursday, January 25th, 2024, from 2:30 PM-4:30 PM at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center to get outside and plant ahead! We will plant trees even if it is raining but will not plant trees if there is a threat of dangerous weather. The inclement weather date is February 1st, 2024 at the same time and location. Email the Office of Sustainability at sustain@auburn.edu if you need transportation to this event from campus.

Plant Ahead: A Tree Planting Event
2024-02-01 14:30 - 16:30 | Event Venue | Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, United States
Come join the Office of Sustainability and the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center for Plant Ahead: A Tree Planting Event. Volunteers are invited to come plant trees at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center! Together, we will learn about forestry practices, Alabama’s native flora, and how to properly plant trees while enjoying the beautiful outdoor scenery and wildlife of the preserve. A short information session will precede the event!
Work will be physical so volunteers should wear clothing that will protect the legs, clothes you do not mind getting dirty, and closed-toed shoes. A water cooler will be present, so please bring a refillable water bottle. Additionally, volunteers should bring gloves, if available. Tools and some gloves will be available. Registration is requested, but not required, prior to the event. For an event reminder and to help spread the word, RSVP for the PLANt Ahead event on Facebook. Students can register on the Office of Sustainability GivePulse. Waivers will be signed on site.
We will meet in the parking lot at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. Please join us on Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 2:30 PM-4:30 PM at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center to get outside and plant ahead! We will plant trees even if it is raining but will not plant trees if there is a threat of dangerous weather. Email the Office of Sustainability at sustain@auburn.edu if you need transportation to this event from campus.

Free Lunch Seminar for International Women's Day
2024-03-13 11:00 - 13:00 | Event Venue | Melton Student Center Ballroom, 255 Heisman Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
The International Cultural Center (ICC) in the Office of International Programs and the Women and Gender Studies Program are hosting a free lunch seminar to recognize International Women’s Day. The seminar will consist of a panel of Auburn University and community members in which the audience is encouraged to interact, and a meal will be provided.
In addition to the celebration of International Women’s Day, ICC’s Year of Indonesia will also be recognized through the appreciation of Indonesian artifacts and artwork.
The event will take place in Ballroom B in the Harold D. Melton Student Center from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Beyond the Farm
2024-03-20 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-03-26 11:00 - 14:00 | Event Venue | Student Center Greenspace
Join the Ag Council for the 2024 Beyond the Farm event! Come by to learn more about agriculture and to interact with the different offices, groups, and organizations that will be tabling!

Healthcare in Taiwan - AU-NCKU Taiwan Center Culture Seminar
2024-04-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Event Venue | Melton Student Center – Room 2222, 225 Heisman Dr., Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join the AU-NCKU Taiwan Center to learn about the Taiwanese healthcare system from Assistant Professor Chin-Yen Lin! This is a free event for students, and lunch will be provided. This event will occur on April 9 from 12 PM to 2 PM in rooms 2222 and 2223 in the Melton Student Center. Visit the AU Involve page to learn more.

Craft Day
2024-04-09 18:00 - 19:45 | Event Venue | RBD Library, 231 Mell St, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join Nifty Arts n’ Crafts in Room 3041 in the RBD Library to do some crafting! There will be coloring pages, yarn and hooks, and more. This is a free event! Visit the event’s AU Involve page to learn more.

Taiwan Center -Taiwan Night
2024-10-04 05:00 - 19:00 | Event Venue | Foy Hall – Room 208, United States
Join the AU-NCKU Taiwan Center at Taiwan Night and experience what a Taiwanese night market might be like in Taiwan! There will be games, prizes and free food (+ free boba tea from Kung Fu Tea)!
If you haven’t been to a traditional Taiwanese Night market, don’t miss out and come join in on the fun! We hope to see you there!

On the Topic of Artificial General Intelligence - A Panel Discussion
2024-11-01 10:00 | Event Venue | Lowder Hall – Room 111, 405 W. Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
On the Topic of Artificial General Intelligence – A Panel Discussion
As we witness the pronounced effect that large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are having on every facet of our lives, we find ourselves asking questions like, “What’s is the future of AI?”, “Will AI eventually equal and/or surpass human general intelligence?”, and if so, “What will this Artificial General Intelligence look like, act like, and be like?” In this panel discussion, guests will learn and explore, firsthand, from three leading AI experts the answers to these questions.
Anh Nguyen, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University
Santu Karmaker, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering & Computer Science, University of Central Florida, and former Auburn University Computer Science and Software Engineering Assistant Professor
Sathya Aakur, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University
This lecture is apart of a series being hosted by Auburn University’s official artificial intelligence initiative. The series offer attendees a valuable chance to learn about the latest developments, ethical issues, and societal effects of AI. Participants will deepen their knowledge of this transformative field while engaging in discussions that could influence AI’s future direction.
Forums are open to the public – in person in Lowder 111 and via Zoom (https://auburn.zoom.us/j/81706339239). To view additional lectures in the series visit the announcement on the College of Engineering website.

Election Day 2024
2024-11-05 07:00 - 19:00 | Event Venue | Various Locations
Polls in Alabama open for in-person voting in the 2024 General Election.

Sustainability and Social Justice by Gary Machlis; Seminar Series
2024-11-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Event Venue | School of Forestry and Wildlife Science – Room 1101, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment for their 2024 Fall Seminar Series featuring Dr. Gary E. Machlis as he talks on sustainability and social justice. Key aspects from his new book Sustainability for the Forgotten will be covered followed by a book signing and meet & greet.
Dr. Machlis is a University Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson University with an extensive background in sustainability efforts which include working with the U.S. National Park Service, Interior’s Strategic Sciences Group, and more. He has also helped extensively following large disasters including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Hurricane Sandy, and Haiti’s devastating earthquake.
Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this program. Advanced registration is not required. Refreshments will be available after the seminar. Parking is available on the third and fourth floors in the South Quad Parking Deck across from the CFWE Building on Duncan Drive. For more information please visit the event calendar on the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment’s website.

Building AI for Humanity: Emory's Approach to AI
2024-11-15 10:00 | Event Venue | Lowder Hall – Room 111, 405 W. Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Building AI for Humanity: Emory’s Approach to AI presented by:
Joe Sutherland, Director, Center for AI Learning, Emory University
Sutherland will discuss Emory’s approach to building AI capability through the AI. Humanity initiative and the Center for AI Learning, and offer lessons learned from the perspectives of our faculty, student, and staff who participate in our research, curricular, co-curricular, and community service programs.
This lecture is apart of a series being hosted by Auburn University’s official artificial intelligence initiative. The series offer attendees a valuable chance to learn about the latest developments, ethical issues, and societal effects of AI. Participants will deepen their knowledge of this transformative field while engaging in discussions that could influence AI’s future direction.
Forums are open to the public – in person in Lowder 111 and via Zoom (https://auburn.zoom.us/j/81706339239). To view additional lectures in the series visit the announcement on the College of Engineering website.

Meet Me at the VIC
2025-01-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Event Venue | Auburn University Student Center, Student Center, 255 Heisman Dr, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will host its 6th annual Meet Me at the VIC (Volunteer, Internship, and Career) Fair which will convene dozens of regional nonprofits with AU undergraduate students who seek to help support local, regional, and national nonprofit efforts.
Nonprofits seeking to register for the Meet Me at the VIC may do so via this link.
Contact Brittany Spillman at spillbl@auburn.edu or 334-844-3557 with any questions.
This event is open to Auburn University students and faculty interested in networking with nonprofit professionals throughout the region.

Auburn Research Symposium Submission Deadline
2025-02-10 | AL
The Auburn Research Symposium gives undergraduate students, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers an opportunity to share their research university-wide. Abstract submissions will be for oral presentations or for poster presentations.
The abstract submission period for the symposium opens December 1, 2024, and closes February 10, 2025. For more information visit the event on the Senior Vice President for Research & Economic Development Page.

Third Thursday Poetry Series
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Event Venue | Pebble Hill, United States
Join the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Department of English, and Southern Humanities Review in the College of Liberal Arts at Pebble Hill for the Third Thursday Poetry Series featuring Julia Phillips & Rodney Leonard.
Julia Phillips is the author of the bestselling novels Bear and Disappearing Earth, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and one of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year.
Born in Nixburg, Alabama, Rodney Terich Leonard is the author of Sweetgum & Lightning (Four Way Books). His next collection, Another Land of My Body, is forthcoming from Four Way Books.

AU Climate Symposium
2025-03-25 09:00 - 13:30 | Event Venue | Melton Student Center Ballroom, 255 Heisman Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
AU Climate Symposium 2025: Creating a Healthier Environment for Everyone is the 4th annual AU Climate Symposium for faculty, graduate students and stakeholders doing climate related research. The goal of the event is to share and communicate climate research to promote future collaboration.
The event begins with Research Lightning Talks for researchers & practitioners in many different disciplines and sectors. The half day event also includes two Student Poster Sessions, Stakeholder Panel with Q&A and a session of Table Discussions with stakeholders, faculty and students. The symposium concludes with a Networking Luncheon for all participants with a climate journalist speaker.

NAIA Spring Cultural Festival
2025-03-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Event Venue | Campus Green, 500 Heisman Dr, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
The Native American & Indigenous Alliance is having their biggest event ever: The NAIA Spring Cultural Festival! Come to the Campus Green on March 29th to enjoy this free event! There will be Native food, art vendors, demonstrations, cultural dancing, and drumming! This event is free to everyone!

Geographic Indigenous Futures Ft. Dr. Smiles
2025-04-10 15:30 - 17:00 | Event Venue | ACLC – Room 208, Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join the Department of Geosciences for an important and timely talk by Dr. Deondre Smiles, Director of the Geographic Indigenous Futures Collaboratory, as he explores the powerful possibilities of Indigenous scholarship for the discipline of Geography in the face of climate and political instability.
Learn more about Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles:
a research associate in the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. They are an Indigenous geographer who focuses on Indigenous cultural and political responses to human-driven climate and environmental change. They also direct the Geographic Indigenous Futures Collaboratory, an international research group that works with Indigenous communities on geographic-based projects. Dr. Smiles holds a PhD in Geography from The Ohio State University.

Donate Professional Clothing
2025-04-21 07:00 - 18:00 | Event Venue | Ross Square, Ross Square, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Looking to clean out your closet and give back? Drop off your gently used men’s and women’s business professional clothing at our curbside donation drive behind Samford Hall!

Volunteers will be on-site all day to assist with unloading your donations—no need to leave your car. All clothing will go directly to support the Auburn University Career Closet, helping students look and feel confident for interviews, internships, and beyond.

Help us support students and promote sustainability—one outfit at a time!

Women Artists in Ascendance
2025-08-26 10:00 - 18:00 | Event Venue | Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Featuring objects on loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art alongside the university art collection, Women Artists in Ascendance pulls back the curtain on the story of modern American art by displaying works from a dozen women artists who were goliaths in their own right, including Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan and Lee Krasner.
Organized in partnership with Art Bridges

Branching Out: The Public History of Trees with Brian Dempsey and Carrie Barske Crawford
2025-09-17 11:30 - 13:00 | Event Venue | Pebble Hill, United States
Part of the OLLI at Auburn Brown Bag Series
Trees are often viewed primarily as natural resources, yet they also hold powerful places in our cultural landscapes and collective memory. Branching Out: The Public History of Trees, a 2025 essay collection from the University of Massachusetts Press, explores trees through this cultural lens and examines their important role in public history practice.
University of North Alabama historians Dr. Brian Dempsey and Dr. Carolyn Barske Crawford each contributed essays to the volume. In “An Island of Trees Called Old Hickory: History and Place in the Mississippi Delta,” Dempsey examines a small stand of trees on the edge of Cleveland, Mississippi. Though ordinary in appearance, the site embodies deep cultural associations that illuminate how people connect with and interpret their local landscapes.
In “‘The Most Useful Tree:’ The American Chestnut, Stories, and Species Restoration,” Crawford explores how the American Chestnut Foundation leverages memories of the tree’s once-vital economic, social, and cultural role in Appalachia to support ongoing restoration efforts. Her work highlights the potential for powerful partnerships between scientists and public historians. Together, Dempsey and Crawford will share insights from their research and invite the audience to reflect on why trees matter—not only ecologically, but as anchors of meaning in public history and cultural life.

Constitution Day Speaker - Fred Gray
2025-09-17 16:00 | Event Venue | Foy Hall – Room 258
Mr. Gray, perhaps the most noted civil rights attorney in the nation, will reflect on his unique and storied journey arguing for the constitutional rights of African Americans. In his first ten years as a lawyer, Attorney Gray was legal counsel in what would become four landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases and for over seven decades handled numerous civil rights cases, including the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study. His clients include Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Congressman John Lewis. Gray represented Harold Franklin in the lawsuit that desegregated Auburn University. In 2022. President Joe Biden awarded Gray the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor given in the United States.

Sponsored By: the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts, Auburn University Libraries, the Department of Political Science, and the Charles Wesley Edwards, Sr.
Endowment for the Humanities. The Constitution Day lecture is a part of the Discover Auburn Lecture Series.

Third Thursday Literary Series: Jacqueline Allen Trimble
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Event Venue | Pebble Hill, United States
Refreshments and book sales will be available at 6 PM; the reading will begin at 6:30 PM.
Jacqueline Allen Trimble is a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow (Poetry), a Cave Canem Graduate Fellow, and an Alabama State Council on the Arts Literary Fellow (2017, 2023). Her poetry has appeared in various journals including Poetry Magazine, The Louisville Review, The Offing, The Rumpus, Salvation South, and Poet Lore.
The Third Thursday Literary Series is sponsored by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Department of English, and Southern Humanities Review in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University; the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University; and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Create and Cultivate
2025-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Event Venue | Innovation & Research Commons – RBD Library, Mell Street, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join the Office of Sustainability and the Auburn University Libraries for a night of sustainable crafting and horticulture! Bring an old ceramic mug to the RBD Library Innovation & Research Commons and leave with an upcycled planter complete with its own greenery! We will have basil, oregano, catnip, and pothos propagations for you to choose from! This event, part of the I&RC’s Mini-Make series, will be held on September 24 from 5pm to 7pm. We hope to see you!
Please RSVP on our AU Involve Link!

Handmade Holidays: Creating Upcycled Gift Wrap
2025-11-18 17:00 - 19:00 | Event Venue | Innovation & Research Commons – RBD Library, Mell Street, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Create upcycled gift wrap, cards, and tags using paper scraps, reused textiles, biodegradable potato stamps, and more! We hope you can join The Office of Sustainability and our cosponsors, the AU Libraries, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department, and the Association of Visual Artists. Stop by the RBD I&RC on Tuesday, November 18, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Feel free to bring along any holiday gifts you may need wrapped and get creative!

Mending Night
2026-01-27 17:30 - 20:30 | Event Venue | Innovation & Research Commons – RBD Library, Mell Street, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join us for Mending Night on January 27th from 5:30 – 8:30 PM in the RBD Library’s Innovation and Research Commons! We’ll have sewing machines, supplies, and dedicated stations for hemming pants, sewing buttons, patching holes, and upcycling pieces into something new. No prior sewing experience? No problem! Fashion students and volunteers will be there to guide you through every step.
Bring your worn-out or damaged clothes and give them a second life instead of tossing them away. Learn a new skill, meet new friends, and make sustainable choices – all in one night!

This event is put on in partnership with:

AU Libraries
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Apparel Merchandising and Design Association (AMDA)

AUinvolve Link
