Events
All UofL Sustainability events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. What did I miss?! Check out our Past Events log.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb. 18 - Apr. 1 , 2026 |
Spring Bike Repair Workshop Series Alternate Wednesdays, Feb. 18th to April 1st, 4-6pm UofL Bike Shop (basement of the UPA Building. 426 W Bloom St.) Want to learn how to fix and maintain your bike to keep it rolling as the spring weather warms? Join us for a free spring series of hands-on workshops focused on different topics every other Wednesday from 4-6pm! Workshops will be held at the UofL Bike Shop in the basement of the Urban & Public Affairs building (426 W. Bloom St.).You do not need to be present for each session, and you're welcome to drop-in any time from 4-6pm. Our goal is to teach how to fix some specific issues then to allow participants to really practice their skills on multiple bikes! Please sign-up here if you are interested in participating. Our planned sessions will be:
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| Jan. 22 - May 28, 2026 |
Spring Garden Gatherings 2026 Mondays, 4pm at the Urban & Public Affairs Garden (426 W. Bloom St., behind Bettie Johnson Hall) Thursdays, 12:30pm at the Garden Commons (northeast of the Baptist Center) UofL’s organic campus gardens are great places to relax, reconnect, learn, and savor the sweet taste of sustainability! Students, faculty, staff, and the public are all welcome to come experience the thrill of turning tiny seeds into an abundance of hyper-local veggies, herbs, fruit & flowers. Stop by anytime to sample the goodness and help us keep things watered and weeded. We will gather weekly at both of our campus food gardens throughout the spring (Jan. 22 - May 28) to plant, weed, water & harvest. Tools and gloves provided. Monthly hands-on Garden Workshops will also be offered at these times. Everyone who comes is welcome to share in the harvest! Connect with us and get all the details on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook Event. |
| April 4, 2026 |
Three Bridges Trail Hike Saturday, April 4th, 9am-5pm, Olive Hill, KY, $20 per person. Join Campus Recreation for this Appalachian hike! At just over three miles in length, Three Bridges Trail in Carter Caves State Resort Park is a fantastic trail with beautiful, interesting rock formations. The route stops by three of the park's natural rock bridges: Smoky Bridge (the largest), the Raven Bridge, and the Fern Bridge. Registration required. |
| April 4, 2026 |
Horner Wildflower Walk Saturday, April 4th, noon-2pm, UofL's Horner Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary (Crestwood, Oldham Co.) Experience the beauty of early spring wildflowers on hikes guided by faculty and students from the UofL Biology Department at the Horner Sanctuary in Crestwood. April is the time for brilliant spring ephemeral wildflowers. There will be a longer guided hike (~1hr) and shorter guided walking experiences on trails and roads through the property. Participants will also meet faculty from Anthropology, Archeology and Geography. All ages are welcome and there is no charge to participate. Registration required (30 person max.) |
| April 4, 2026 |
Repair Fair! Saturday, April 4th, noon-4pm, SAC W116 UofL's Sustainability Council is hosting a Repair Fair in partnership with Sit n' Stitch! Repair fairs are a great opportunity for people to keep items out of landfills, foster a repair mindset, gain vital repair skills, and to connect with a community of others passionate about repair. Participants will also become more familiar with the effort that goes into the creation of their everyday items, encouraging them to become more mindful consumers! By participating in repair fairs, we can all REDUCE our consumption--a vital part of any circular economy—which saves participants money and saves resources! We are also able to escape from our silos and connect across disciplines!
- Repair items and keep them out of landfills; - Connect repair minded individuals from across disciplines; - Foster community; - Teach repair skills; and - Save students, staff, and faculty money! Facebook Event. |
| Every Sunday |
UofL Community Composting Volunteer Days Every Sunday, Noon-2pm (  Add to your Calendar)250 E. Bloom St. (block north of Cardinal Blvd. between Brook & Floyd Streets, map) Come help us turn “trash” into treasure as we manage UofL’s volunteer-powered community composting operation. Dress to get dirty. Tools provided. Learn about worm composting and becoming a UofL EcoRep! All participants are welcome to haul home some rich UofL compost for gardening projects in your own containers/vehicle. This is a weekly service opportunity throughout the year. Contact: Brian Barnes, 502-338-1338. |
| April 8, 2026 |
Nature-Based Solutions in Cities - Promise, Politics, and the Challenge of Scale and Equity Wednesday, April 8th, 2:30pm, BAB 218  Dr. Kalpana Venkatasubramanian, UofL professor of Geographic and Environmental Sciences, will be sharing how Nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as a prominent approach to addressing urban climate risks, ecological degradation, and social well-being. Framed as multi-functional, cost-effective, and participatory, NbS promise to integrate environmental, social, and economic goals within urban planning. However, the concept remains contested. In this talk Kalpana will focus on three key tensions: conceptual ambiguity, the challenge of scaling localized interventions to address systemic urban problems, and persistent inequities in participation and benefit distribution. Kalpana will ground these debates in a case study of Alberta O. Jones Park in Louisville, arguing that equity must remain central as NbS efforts expand. Sponsored by UofL's Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences. |
| April 14, 2026 |
States and Nature: The Effects of Climate Change on Security 2026 Grawemeyer Recipient Presentation: Joshua W. Busby Tuesday, April 14th, 1pm, Ekstrom Library's Chao Auditorium For his work to understand why climate change leads to negative security consequences in some places and not others, Joshua W. Busby, professor of public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, will receive the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Busby presented these ideas in his book, “States and Nature: The Effects of Climate Change on Security.” In the book, Busby explains how the combination of state capacity, political exclusion and international assistance determine the degree to which the impacts of climate change affect security for a country’s citizens. “The effects of pollution from burning fossil fuels have fundamentally altered our climate and will get worse until we move to cleaner energy,” Busby said. “Even as we transition away from fossil fuels, we have to prepare for climate impacts, some of which are inevitable at this point. Countries with weak government capacity, where political institutions exclude some people from power and where foreign assistance is blocked or delivered to some groups and not others are likely to have the worst outcomes, including humanitarian emergencies and violent conflict,” he said. “But the hopeful story of my book is that the worst consequences of climate change are not inevitable. Governments, even very poor ones, can take steps to protect their populations from climate harms and prevent large-scale loss of life from exposure to climate-related extreme weather, including cyclones and droughts. With a little bit of outside help, governments have been able to reduce their vulnerability to climate disasters and concerted action can prevent climate shocks from escalating to violence.” Charles E. Ziegler, University of Louisville professor of political science, University Scholar and director of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, said Busby’s book examines the crucial global governance topic of confronting the negative implications of climate change in the realm of security. “Busby’s carefully conducted case studies allow for comparison of neighboring states that are confronted with similar climate hazards, yet experience very different outcomes,” Ziegler said. “The policy implications for confronting the security costs of climate change are clear and particularly timely given controversy about how to deal with the global climate crisis.” The Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order has been given annually since 1988 to those who have taken on issues of world importance and presented viewpoints that could lead to a more just and peaceful world. Each idea supports one noble cause: to inspire us all to work together for the common good. Learn more here. Facebook Event. |
| April 14, 2026 |
2026 Co-op Summit: Nurturing Louisville’s Cooperative Ecosystem Tuesday, April 14th, 4-6pm, 1606 Rowan St.
Individuals with expertise in these areas will lead a session where topics will be explored. The Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at UofL Center for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (CACHE) at 1606 Rowan St. The Co-op summit is free for attendees but registration is required. Register here! Questions may be directed to Henry Cunningham (h.cunningham@louisville.edu) or by calling 852-8946 |
| April 17, 2026 |
EcoReps Lunch & Learn Workshop: UofL Maple Syrup & Honey Pancake Party! Friday, April 17th, Noon-1pm, University Club OR Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Join us for our monthly EcoReps workshop featuring locals making a difference in sustainability and a free vegetarian lunch! We'll wrap up the year with our annual celebration of our sweet sustainability harvests on campus, as we sample some of this year's maple syrup and honey harvests! Come enjoy some pancakes with our very own local sweetness. All are welcome. You'll also learn about tapping UofL maple trees to make syrup and raising honeybees on campus! This will also serve as a party to recognize all the work that went into submitting UofL's 2026 Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report, and an unveiling of our new rating, which we are very excited to share with you! The Sustainability Council’s EcoReps program is designed to move students, faculty & staff beyond talk to action for a more sustainable UofL! We provide basic training & resources, service opportunities, and leadership positions as a point-person & peer-to-peer advocate for sustainability. More info on EcoReps website. Facebook Event. |
| April 22, 2026 |
Earth Day 2026 Wednesday, April 22nd, 11am-1pm, Red Barn Plaza The Student Activities Board and UofL Sustainability Council invite you to celebrate the end of the semester and the 57th anniversary of Earth Day! Full details TBA, but you can expect sustainable prizes, farm to table food, potted plants to take home, and great information about how to get engaged in the movement to save ourselves by saving Mother Earth! The UofL Free Store will be offering a pop-up Free Sale at the event if you'd like to "shop" for some spring and summer goodies, or donate any useful items to the Free Store as you begin move-out for summer 2026! |
| April 24, 2026 |
Benefits of Gardening for Older Adults Friday, April 24th, noon-1:30pm, online UofL's Trager Institute hosts Project ECHO: Care of Older Adults and the Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Communities. Kristen Neises will present “Gardening for Health: Movement, Nutrition and Connection with Nature.” Participants will learn about the health benefits of gardening, identify adaptations that make gardening more accessible and apply strategies to encourage older adults to engage in gardening. 1.5 hours of social work and community health worker continuing education pending. First-time attendees, register here. Project ECHO: Care of Older Adults and the Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Communities is hosted by the University of Louisville Trager Institute. Join our growing community of health care providers and community stakeholders dedicated to learning best practices in the care of older adults. Each session will include short didactics, the opportunity to present case presentations, participate in case discussions, and share events happening in their communities. The target audience includes: Healthcare professionals, direct service workers, and students. |
| April 24, 2026 |
Sustainability Roundtable: Opportunities and Challenges in Urban Farming Friday, April 24th, noon-1pm, Microsoft Teams Join the Sustainability Roundtable for Green Within Gray: Opportunities and Challenges in Urban Farming. Discussants will include: • Joe Trigg, Co-founder of My Farm Exchange • Justin Mog, Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives, University of Louisville • Nicole Phillips, Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator, Louisville Metro Government Join Microsoft Teams meeting. |
| May 21, 2026 |
Serviceberry Foraging Workshop Thursday, May 21st, 12:30pm, Garden Commons (NE corner of Baptist Center) Bring a pail or Tupperware and get ready to load up on the sweetest "secret" right under our noses! Serviceberries (aka Juneberries) are native to Kentucky (and 48 states!). They are planted all over the city as a common, low-maintenance street tree. The fruits are ripe for only two weeks around June 1st. They are similar to blueberries but a little bit nutty (the trees are in the almond family!). UofL's campus boasts many loaded serviceberries and during this special workshop, we will walk around to visit many of them! Pick and take home as many as you can. Enjoy them fresh or freeze them for pies and smoothies year-round! Meetup at the Garden Commons and we'll go from there. For inspiration, read Robin Wall Kimmerer's deeply insightful essay, The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance. Facebook Event. |
| June 3, 2026 |
 S.M.A.R.T. SummerFest 2026Wednesday, June 3rd, 11:30am to 1:00pm, HSC Courtyard Stop by the UofL Sustainability Council / HSC Green Team's booth at the 5th annual S.M.A.R.T. (School of Medicine Advancement, Retention, and Training) SummerFest and earn your way toward a free ice cream cone! SummerFest is designed to be an engaging and informative experience for School of Medicine staff and everyone at HSC is welcome! In addition to a resource fair, attendees can enjoy music, a dessert social, door prize giveaways, and interactive activities. It's a fantastic opportunity for networking, learning, and community-building! |
| Aug. 17 - Nov. 23, 2026 |
Fall Garden Gatherings 2026 Mondays, 5pm at the Urban & Public Affairs Garden (426 W. Bloom St., behind Bettie Johnson Hall)Wednesdays, 3pm at the Garden Commons (northeast of the Baptist Center) UofL’s organic campus gardens are great places to relax, reconnect, learn, and savor the sweet taste of sustainability! Students, faculty, staff, and the public are all welcome to come experience the thrill of turning tiny seeds into an abundance of hyper-local veggies, herbs, fruit & flowers. Stop by anytime to sample the goodness and help us keep things watered and weeded. We will gather weekly at both of our campus food gardens throughout the fall (Aug. 17 - Nov. 23) to harvest, weed, water & plant. Tools and gloves provided, but bring bags to harvest into! Everyone who comes is welcome to share in the harvest! Connect with us and get all the details on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook Event. |
| Fall 2026 |
Mountain Biking in Cherokee Park POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2026, details TBA Join Campus Recreation and the UofL Sustainability Council on a morning bike ride to Cherokee Park and explore the mountain biking trails within the Park. Riders are encouraged to bring their own mountain bikes as our supply is limited, but if you need a bike, this ride is free and all equipment will be provided. Spots are limited. Middle of Town Cycling is sponsoring this ride and will be offering a $20 gift card to the first 10 riders to register and all participants will receive free water bottles and hats! Registration required. |
The Co-op Summit is an annual event organized by the Office of Community Engagement in collaboration with a working committee of faculty and staff who have invested their time to support local cooperatives in the area. The Summit brings together individuals in the Louisville area who are involved in co-operatives, as well as those interested in the cooperative movement, to explore various topics on running a small business and running a co-op. Topics to be explored at this year’s summit include the following:What did I miss?! Check out our Past Events log.
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