Browse All Upcoming Lectures

The Good and the Bad of Altering the Global Nitrogen Cycle
7:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - Fobes Ronald Lecture in Environmental ConservationNitrogen is a major building block of all life on Earth but throughout history, has been a major limiting nutrient for the growth of plants and animals. This changed in the 20th century with the industrial manufacture of nitrogen fertilizer. The Green Revolution, stimulated by synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, has increased human quality of life and stimulated population increases worldwide, but it comes at a great cost to the environment. In this lecture, Dr. Baron will describe the impacts of nitrogen pollution on air, water, climate, and ecological resources, and share examples of how we can continue to reap the benefits of nitrogen for humanity while reducing the damage.Jill S. Baron is a Senior Research Scientist with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University. She retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in 2025, where she was a Senior Scientist specializing in ecosystem ecology. Her interests include applying ecosystem concepts to the management of human-dominated regions and understanding the biogeochemical and ecological effects of atmospheric deposition and climate change on mountain ecosystems. She serves on the project management board of the International Nitrogen Management System, a program that brings together the science community, the private sector, and civil society to gather and synthesize evidence that can support international policy development to improve global nitrogen management. Baron is the founder and Co-Director of the John Wesley Powell Center for Earth System Science Analysis and Synthesis. She is also the founder and Principal Investigator of the Loch Vale Watershed long-term monitoring and research program in Rocky Mountain National Park, which, since 1983, seeks to understand the ecological and biogeochemical implications of atmospheric deposition and climate change. Baron was President of the Ecological Society of America in 2014 and is a Certified Senior Ecologist. She is a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. Dr. Baron received her Ph.D. from Colorado State University in 1991 and has undergraduate and master’s degrees from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event. The recording will only be available for three weeks from the date of the lecture.

Productivity Hubs & Food Security: A New Model for Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in the Philippines
1:15 PM – Campanile Room, Memorial Union - This lecture is the keynote for the Alleviating Food Insecurity Summit, which runs from 12-4pm on May 1. The entire event is free and open to the public. More information about the entire conference schedule can be found here. 

Garden Grown
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Since 2002, Reiman Gardens’ Internship Program has exemplified excellence in professional development and public engagement. Designed to cultivate the next generation of horticulturalists, educators, and public garden professionals, the program integrates hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community outreach with intensive pre-professional practice in the public garden industry.In this special presentation, hear from our 2025 interns about their experiences and special projects, as well as additional lessons learned about working for a non-profit.Note: This event will not be recorded.

Honeybees 101 and Beekeeping Basics
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Learn the basics behind bees and beekeeping with beekeeper and Agriculture Specialist Zachary Koopman, ISU Research and Demonstration Farms. In 2023, Zack installed a unique group of honey bees near Sycamore Falls at Reiman Gardens, where they collect nectar and pollen, add to the local ecology, and produce honey.If you've been wondering about keeping bees on your property (or about bees in general), bring your questions and if you're up for it, stay for a short guided trip out to see the bees on site!Note: This event will not be recorded.

Cultivating a Collection: Art on Campus in Public Gardens
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - University Museums' Art on Campus Collection is one of the largest public art collections on a college campus in the nation. This session focuses on the sculpture located in the public gardens on campus, and the distinctive commissioning method for these works of art.Art on Campus Curator Sydney Marshall will explore examples of art from Reiman Gardens and the Anderson Sculpture Garden located in the heart of campus. She will discuss the commissioning process, as well as the care and maintenance of these remarkable pieces within the collection.Note: This lecture will not be recorded.