Office of Sustainability

Parkerson Mill Creek Cleanup
2024-11-08 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Parkerson Mill Creek Outside of Wellness Kitchen, 370 S Donahue Dr, Auburn, AL, 36832, United States
MAKE AN IMPACT AND HELP CLEAN THE PARKERSON MILL CREEK.
Join Auburn’s Risk Management and Safety and Stormwater Management to help cleanup Parkerson Mill Creek. This vital waterway in the heart of campus is used for outdoor classrooms, recreation, and more. It’s up to the Auburn University Community to keep this living stream vibrant, clean, and beautiful. Supplies will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring waterproof shoes and clothes that they do not mind getting dirty.
The group will be meeting at the intramural field house. To learn more please see the flyer on linked on Auburn’s Stormwater Management page.

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by noon DEADLINE
2024-11-05 09:00 - 15:00 | Various Locations
Today, absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by noon for the 2024 General Election.
To learn more about voting, you can visit the Office of Sustainability’s voting page or the Alabama Secretary of State website.
PLEASE NOTE: The voting information on our website could be subject to error. It is good practice to gain information from an official government source to ensure credibility and accuracy.

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

Last day to hand-deliver absentee ballot DEADLINE
2024-11-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Various Locations
Today is the last day to hand-deliver an absentee ballot for the 2024 General Election.
To learn more about voting, you can visit the Office of Sustainability’s voting page or the Alabama Secretary of State website.
PLEASE NOTE: The voting information on our website could be subject to error. It is good practice to gain information from an official government source to ensure credibility and accuracy.

Mobile Bike Shop
2024-11-01 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Haley Concourse
No registration required. Don’t have time to stop by the Auburn Outdoors bike shop at The Rec? Don’t worry – trained and experienced Bike Techs are on campus to provide repairs, maintenance, and tune-ups on your way to class. Follow @auburnrecwellness on Instagram to see where they will be each month or view our calendar!

On the Topic of Artificial General Intelligence - A Panel Discussion
2024-11-01 10:00 | 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.

Last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person DEADLINE
2024-10-31 09:00 - 15:00 | Various Locations
Today is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person for the 2024 General Election.
To learn more about voting, you can visit the Office of Sustainability’s voting page or the Alabama Secretary of State website.
PLEASE NOTE: The voting information on our website could be subject to error. It is good practice to gain information from an official government source to ensure credibility and accuracy.

Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail DEADLINE
2024-10-29 09:00 - 15:00 | Various Locations
Today is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail for the 2024 General Election.
To learn more about voting, you can visit the Office of Sustainability’s voting page or the Alabama Secretary of State website.
PLEASE NOTE: The voting information on our website could be subject to error. It is good practice to gain information from an official government source to ensure credibility and accuracy.

Science Pub "Lessons of Life: Told from the Wings of a Butterfly"
2024-10-24 18:30 | John Emerald Distillery, 706 N Railroad Ave, Opelika, AL, 36801, United States
Join Auburn University Outreach at John Emerald Distilling Co. in Opelika for a presentation by Dr. Brian Counterman, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and a curator of the AU Museum of Natural History.
The story of butterflies started nearly 100 million years ago, not far from where we’ll meet. Their brilliantly colored wings have always fascinated and perplexed us — how has such a diversity of beautifully complex organisms come to exist?
Come hear the story of the origin of butterflies, and how Alabama and its scientists have played pivotal roles in shaping our understanding of butterfly diversification and the origin of species. This event is free and open to all ages (with parent discretion), no registration necessary.

Common Book Keynote with Author Eileen Garvin: The Music of Bees, with Book Signing to Follow
2024-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Student Activities Center
Each Fall, the Auburn Family reads our common book and participates in activities to share new perspectives, discuss important themes, and learn from one another. Join the Office of the Provost on October 22 for the 2024 Common Book Author Keynote and Book Signing! The fall 2024 book is The Music of Bees.
The Keynote will be from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, followed by the Book Signing which will end around 9:30 PM.
The event will be held in the Student Activities Center Auditorium located behind the Martin Aquatics Center.

Social Justice Lecture - Moving the Needle: What Tight Labor Markets Do for the Poor
2024-10-22 18:00 | Haley Center – Room 2370, Thach Concourse, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work Presents “Moving the Needle: What Tight Labor Markets Do for the Poor” by Katherine S. Newman, Ph.D. and Elisabeth Jacobs, Ph.D.
What happens when jobs are plentiful, and workers are hard to come by? The authors discuss positive consequences of tight labor markets along with the downside of overheated economies and offer a call to implement policies that will improve job prospects and life chances of our most vulnerable households.
Sponsored By the Department of History, Department of Music, Department of Political Science, Department of Psychological Sciences, Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work, Department of Theatre and Dance, School of Communication and Journalism, World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, and the College of Liberal Arts

Voter registration deadline
2024-10-21 09:00 - 15:00 | Various Locations
Today is the voter registration deadline for the 2024 General Election.
To learn more about voting, you can visit the Office of Sustainability’s voting page or the Alabama Secretary of State website.
PLEASE NOTE: The voting information on our website could be subject to error. It is good practice to gain information from an official government source to ensure credibility and accuracy.

AAES Plant Sale
2024-10-19 09:00 - 14:00 | Auburn University Plant Science Research Center
Join Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) for a plant sale at Auburn University’s Plant Science Research Center! Their plants will include native perennials, trees, shrubs, tropical house plants, and more!
The sale will be located on Woodfield Dr. between the Gouge Performing Arts Center and Donahue Drive.

"Hope is Power: Pathways to Living Democracy" a Talk by Frances Moore Lappé
2024-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center, 241 S. College St., Auburn, AL, 36830
AN EVENING TALK AT THE AU HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER
Hope is Power: Pathways to Living Democracy
Doing Our Part to Sustain Democracy
Are you curious about the intersection between democracy and sustainability? Don’t miss an extraordinary opportunity to hear from the renowned author and activist Frances Moore Lappé at Auburn University!
In her captivating talk, “Hope is Power: Pathways to Living Democracy,” Ms. Lappé will take you on her journey that started with addressing food scarcity and diet and led to unraveling the root causes of societal challenges. With her profound insights and compelling storytelling, she will challenge us to see the world not “as it is” but “as we are,” revealing the powerful filters that shape our perceptions and actions.
Discover how private interests, political barriers, and disinformation impede true democracy and learn about inspiring pathways to empowerment. Ms. Lappé will share stories from around the globe, showcasing democratic reform movements and state and city initiatives that energize and motivate democracy-strengthening action.
This is an exceptional chance to engage with a visionary thinker who understands the power of fact-based hope and collective action to create a better world. Whether you’re a student, faculty member, or community resident, this talk is designed to inspire and equip you with the knowledge and motivation needed to make a tangible difference.
Take advantage of this opportunity to participate in a conversation that could change your perspective and empower your actions!
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Following the talk, Ms. Lappé will sign books. Thanks to Well Red, copies of three of her works—Daring Democracy, Hope’s Edge, and Diet for a Small Planet, 50th Anniversary Edition—will be available for purchase at the event.
Free parking is available in campus lots after 5:30 PM. The closest locations are levels 2 and 3 of the South College Parking Deck, the Draughon Library Parking Deck, and the lot in front of Comer Hall. The Hotel at Auburn University has valet parking.
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This year’s Sustainability Speaker Series is a collaborative effort between the Office of Sustainability, Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Academic Sustainability Program, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, Hunger Solutions Institute, League of Women Voters of East Alabama, Master of Community Planning, and the School of Communication and Journalism.

Harvest Market
2024-10-12 08:00 - 12:00 | Town Creek Park, United States
City Market presents Harvest Market!
The best farmer’s market, City Market, is back for the fall season! For this market, the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department partners with local growers and artisans to help sell their fresh, local and handmade products to community members. To learn more about Harvest Market, click here to visit the post on the City of Auburn’s website!

Oars and S'mores
2024-10-07 17:00 - 18:30 | Campus Green, 500 Heisman Dr, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Join Auburn Outdoors for a night of S’mores and outdoor fun! We will be fixing up bikes with our mobile bike shop, roasting s’mores, and talking about all the amazing outdoor trips we have planned for the semester. For more information visit the Rec’s Instagram – @AuburnRecandWellness!

The Sustainable Future of Cross-Laminated Timber in the South: Grow. Design. Build.
2024-10-07 - 2024-10-09 | Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center, 241 S. College St, Auburn, AL, 36830, United States
This 3-day premier conference on cross-laminated timber will feature renowned forestry, building science, engineering, architecture, and design experts who will share the latest research, trends, and developments in the South. Session tracks will cater to the diverse interests of designers, builders, contractors, forestry professionals, academics, landowners, manufacturers, and suppliers.
Register today to stay abreast of the latest opportunities and advancements in CLT and sustainable mass timber products!

Ride and Seek at Chewacla State Park
2024-10-05 08:00 - 11:00 | Chewacla State Park, 124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn, AL, 36830, United States
Join the Auburn Bike Committee for Ride and Seek. Ride and Seek is an event designed to teach kids how to ride bicycles and have fun. Designed for kids in grades K – 8, riders and their parents will get safety tips from experts and test their skills on mountain bike trails and paved trails. There will be free prizes and a raffle for some great bike equipment. Each child must have a guardian or parent registered.
Participants should pre-register on the Auburn Parks and Recreation Website by September 25th at 5:00 PM to receive a t – shirt. $15 per person.

Taiwan Center -Taiwan Night
2024-10-04 05:00 - 19:00 | 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!

First 56 Event: The Native American Indigenous Alliance
2024-10-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Cater Hall Lawn
The Native American and Indigenous Alliance (NAIA) invites the community to celebrate the first 56 days of the semester on the lawn at Cater Hall. The event will feature Danielle Fixico, instructor and artist at the College of the Muscogee Nation in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Fixico’s work has been featured in the Tribal College Journal and publications from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center and is used for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The Mississippi Choctaw Dancers will perform and demonstrate traditional cultural dances.
The event is free and open to all and is co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities.
To lean more about this event and contacts, please visit the College of Liberal Arts website.,

Electric Vehicle Showcase
2024-10-02 17:30 - 19:00 | The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center – Parking Lot, Woodfield Dr, Auburn, AL, United States
Join the Office of Sustainability with our cohosts Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and AU Parking Services, at the Electric Vehicle Showcase and learn how you can enjoy the economical & fun experience of owning an electric vehicle. Electric bikes and autos will be brought by actual owners. This will be an educational event, not a sales event, so bring your questions and talk with actual owners of a variety of makes and models. See why electric vehicles are the fastest-growing transportation segment. It is a fun and informative time, so come kick the tires and ask questions!
Electric vehicle owners register online if they want to be a part of the showcase.
This event will take place on Woodfield Drive between South College Street and South Donahue Drive in the Gogue Performing Arts Center parking lot.

Outstanding Sustainability Essay Contest
2024-10-01
University Writing and the Academic Sustainability Program seek submissions for the Outstanding Sustainability Essay Award. This award recognizes exceptional student writing in prose with a focus on sustainability.
The essay prompts reflect themes in Auburn’s Common Book for 2024, The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin. As you reflect, use the Sustainability Compass to orient your writing toward the interrelations of nature, society, economy, and wellbeing.
Please read the full call for submissions here and submit your essay here by Oct. 1. Winners will be honored at a keynote address by Eileen Garvin.

Pop In Pump Up & Win at the Mobile Bike Shop
2024-09-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Cater Lawn, Auburn University

Fall Sundown Concert: Kiesel Park
2024-09-19 18:00 - 19:30, 2024-09-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Kiesel Park
Auburn Parks and Recreation invites the community to enjoy the Fall Sundown Concert Series at Kiesel Park this September and October. This is a free, family-friendly concert that will take place Thursday evenings.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy an evening of live music. Attendees can either bring their own dinner or visit the Chill Spot food truck for a variety of tasty options. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a leash.
The lineup for this year’s Fall Sundown Concert Series includes:

Sept. 19: Soul Co.
Sept. 26: The Sally Brown Band
Oct. 3: Tony Brook Band
Oct. 10: Jeff Gaither & Co.

Look & Learn: GPAC
2024-09-15 10:00 - 15:00 | The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 S College St, Auburn, AL, 36830, United States
The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center presents, “Look & Learn”:

Enjoy behind-the-scenes tours
Get to know their upcoming season
Learn more about their two new venues
They will have tasty treats from Staks and information about K-12, Family, Campus, and Community programming
Free & Open to all
Drop-in anytime between 10 am – 3pm,

3rd Annual S3A Tailgate (and virtual watch party!)
2024-09-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Langdon Annex Courtyard, 151 Engineering Drive, Auburn University, AL, 36849, United States
The Sustainability Auburn Alumni Affiliate (S3A) and the Office of Sustainability are hosting the 3rd Annual Sustainability Tailgate on September 14th and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering for the Auburn versus New Mexico game and we’d love to have you join us to share food and drinks and get to know others who care about sustainability!
If you plan to attend please RSVP here.
In addition to our own tailgate, S3A is planning to talk to other football fans on gameday to share the importance of sustainability and build connections on campus. We’re looking for volunteers who would like to help us with this outreach! Training and support will be provided. If you are interested, the RSVP form has a question where you can indicate your interest.
This year we’ll also be hosting our first ever virtual tailgate and watch party! If you can’t make it to Auburn for the in-person tailgate, join us for a virtual watch party. Watch the game wherever you are, and join in on our virtual watch party for fun games, networking, and prizes! Cheer on the tigers alongside those with a shared passion for sustainability and Auburn. For those attending the virtual watch party, we’ll follow up with a Zoom link in September.
When? September 14th. In-person tailgate from 3-5 pm CT and virtual watch party at 6 pm CT!
Where? AU Office of Sustainability (Langdon Annex, Auburn University) or on Zoom
Who? AU alumni, students, faculty and staff
If you would like to become a member of S3A, please sign up on our membership form here. You can also stay connected on the S3A Facebook page or the S3A LinkedIn page.
Please reach out to sustaff@auburn.edu with any questions.

Mobile Bike Shop
2024-09-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Cater Lawn, Auburn University

Science Cafe: The Neuroscience of Bad Decisions
2024-09-05 18:30 | Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, 149 E Magnolia Ave Suite A, Auburn, AL, 36830, United States
Why do people engage in risky behavior and make suboptimal choices? Can we blame it on the brain? Join Dr. Samantha Fede from the College of Science and Mathematics for a discussion of the neuroeconomic and psychological processes that lead people to take risks and disregard future consequences.

FREE to everyone! No registration required.
