Global Climate Teach-in 2025

12-2pm Thursday, April 3

This panel will discuss the varied, essential, and urgent roles social workers play in the dynamic field of eco-social work. Dr. Joonmo Kang, whose research examines the intersections of environmental justice and social work practice, will talk with practitioners engaged in sustainable agriculture, energy policy, and environmental organizing about how social work values, knowledge, and skills equip the profession for leadership in face of the climate crisis and other environmental challenges.

This event is open to all and is offered virtually by the Center for Community Engagement in the School of Social Welfare.

12-1pm CT Monday, April 7

This series dives into the complex ethical challenges of our increasingly digital society as it expands on topics that are impacted by emerging technologies across digital, social, and physical landscapes.

What are changing social norms regarding privacy?
How are human-technology relationships evolving?
What does increased reliance on technology mean for the health of the planet?

The series will explore the effects on the individual, as well as on our natural environment, and our social institutions.   

This event is open to all and is offered online only. Hosted by The Commons and the Institute for Information Sciences at KU.

5:30-6:30pm CT Tuesday, April 8

The Educate & Act series features panelists speaking on topics of current relevance to civic action and engagement. Programs in this series feature presenters from across campus, as well as specialists beyond the University.

-What are the key components of KU’s Green New Deal?
-How will implementation of the Green New Deal be visible to people on campus?
-How does KU’s initiative align with broader efforts in local and regional governments?
-Where does the national conversation stand about a Green New Deal?
-What are alternative models and plans that result in reduced carbon emissions?

Zoom registration at: https://bit.ly/EdActSpring2025

This event is open to all and is offered online only. Supported by the Center for Service Learning and The Commons.

3-4pm Thursday, April 10

Healthy democracy fosters an exchange of ideas across experiences and knowledge. One way to offer a platform for this is to root discussion in shared reading and collaborative understanding. Engaged Reading is offered to promote learning and inquiry across populations at the University, through common texts. Inspired by the expansive reach of the KU Reads / Common Book program, and curated with goals of generous and generative conversation, this series will feature excerpts and texts presented with discussion stewards. 

This event is open to all and is offered in-person only. Hosted by The Commons, the KU Libraries, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the Spencer Museum of Art, and the Institute for Policy and Social Research.

4-5:30pm Friday, April 11

Red Hot Research is intended to bring together scholars from all disciplines, to reveal overlaps and connections across areas of interesting and methodological approaches. The format of these sessions is inspired by Pecha Kucha, which features short, slide-based talks that introduce audiences to a topic. Each installment features researchers, speaking for six minutes each. Audience members are encouraged to connect with the speakers (and each other) during breaks. We hope that through these sessions, the University will have a venue for cross-disciplinary partnering and exploration. 

This event is open to KU Faculty, Research Staff, and Graduate Students, and is offered in-person only. Hosted by The Commons.

5:30pm Monday, March 25

Free and open to the public, this event includes an opportunity to be part of a 'live studio audience' for the making of a special episode of The Sweaty Penguin, featuring KU Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Malena Orduña Alegría, a socio-hydrologist at the Kansas Geological Survey.

This event is open to all and is offered in conjunction with EVRN300/GEOG 300 in the Hawk's Nest, Kansas Union Level 1, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS.

Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.

This series showcases the works of leaders included in All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson, whose work span disciplines and ways of addressing the climate crisis.

This event is virtual only. 

Supported by: The Commons; the Hall Center for the Humanities; the Environmental Studies Program; the KU Departments of African and African-American Studies, English, Geography and Atmospheric Science, and Geology; the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity; the History of Black Writing; the Office of Multicultural Affairs; and the University Honors Program.

12pm - 1pm, Tuesday, April 2

Join The Commons, the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, and the Center for Service Learning for an Educate & Act event that explores the influence of feminist principles and practices on the climate movement.

This event is virtual only. 

11am-1pm Wednesday, April 3

Students, faculty, and staff can stop by Wescoe Beach tabling to find resources for how to raise their voices around climate justice.

Presented by members of the KU Civic Engagement Ambassadors. In-person only.

6 pm - 7:30 pm, Wednesday, April 3

Please join the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity in partnership with The Commons in Burge Union, Forum B, for a special Global Climate Teach-In session of Zines & Za, our series of recurring zine nights hosted by Zine Fellow Monty Protest.

This event is in-person only and will take place in the Burge Union, Forum B, 1565 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS.

Students, faculty, and staff can stop by the Kansas Union - Level 4 tabling to find resources for how to raise their voices around climate justice.

Presented by members of the KU Civic Engagement Ambassadors. In-person only.

7:00pm Thursday, April 4

This event is in-person only and will occur at Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence, KS at 644 Massachusetts St.

4:00-5:30pm Friday, April 5

Red Hot Research is an event for KU Researchers at the faculty, graduate student, and staff levels, to exchange ideas and find collaborators. The sessions include perspectives across a range of disciplines all speaking to a common, broad theme. The format is inspired by Pecha Kucha, in that it features short talks to foster audience engagement.

This event will take place in person, in Watson Library, 3W. It is open to faculty, staff, and graduate students.

12pm-3pm Saturday, April 6

Free and open to the public, this event offers an opportunity to watch and listen or join a community choir in serenading the planting of fruit trees next to the Lawrence Public Library. Led by Skyler Adamson and Hazlett Henderson, who received a Rocket Grant to support this work. Rocket Grants are offered through a partnership of the Spencer Museum of Art and the Charlotte Street Foundation, with funds from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

This event is open to all and is offered in-person only, outside of the Lawrence Public Library - 707 Vermont St.

1:00-4:00pm Sunday, April 7

Free and open to the public, this event offers an opportunity to learn more about native plants and make your own seed bombs to plant. Led by Environmental Studies Capstone Students in EVRN 615.

This event is open to all and is offered in person only, at the Sunrise Project - 1501 Learnard Ave.

Snacks will be provided.