Events
Sustainability events are happening year-round at UofL! Don't miss out!
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 |
|---|---|
| Sept. 30. 2025 |
Distinguished Lecture Series – The Last Decade of Life and How to Spend it Outside of the Hospital Tuesday, September 30th, 4:30pm reception / 5:30pm lecture, The Filson Historical Society (1310 S. 3rd St.)  Presented by the University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute in collaboration with the Filson Historical Society. A reception will be held from 4:30-5:25pm, followed by the lecture at 5:30pm. This lecture offers a timely and important exploration of how we can live healthier, disease-free lives. Centered around the concept of healthspan—the portion of life spent in good health, as distinct from total lifespan—the session will challenge us to think differently about what it means to pursue health, rather than merely reduce disease risk. Leaders from the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute will reflect on their multiyear journey shaping a research agenda that reframes medicine around the foundations of well-being. Drawing from robust scientific evidence, the talk will highlight key building blocks of health—including nature, nutrition, and community—and why these require renewed attention in medical research and health systems. The presentation will also offer practical insights into what individuals can do now to promote their own healthspan. Local examples, especially in nature-based interventions and the possibilities of diet, will help ground these ideas in real-world impact.Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar is the Smith & Lucille Gibson Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Environmental Medicine, and Director of the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute at the University of Louisville. A Fellow of the American Heart Association, he is recognized as a pioneer in the field of environmental cardiology. His research explores how oxidative stress from internal and environmental sources contributes to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Bhatnagar leads major initiatives such as the Green Heart Louisville Project and has authored hundreds of scientific publications while mentoring a large research team. He will be joined by colleagues from the Envirome Institute as part of the presentation and discussion. Register here. |
| Aug. 25 - Sept. 30, 2025 |
Cards Commuter Challenge 2025 August 25 - September 30, 2025. University-wide UofL wants you to save money, burn calories, put an end to pollution, and win prizes…all by simply choosing to get to campus in a new way! Record your trips on Cardinal Directions throughout the Cards Commuter Challenge (August 25 - September 30) and each week you'll have the chance to win one of the $50 weekly prizes or the $250 Grand Prize! Any trip by means other than driving alone increases your chances of winning! Step 1: Join the Challenge online!
Step 2: Challenge yourself (and your friends!) to get to campus differently!
Explore all of UofL's Sustainable Transportation Options Connect with us, trash-talk, and post about your commute on social media @UofLSustainable.
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| Sept. 1-30, 2025 |
 Cycle September 2025 September 1-30, 2025 UofL’s Sustainability Council and Get Healthy Now encourage you to saddle up and ride for Team UofL during Cycle September! Reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle and show your support for sustainable transportation. Register for Cycle September as an individual to be entered to win fabulous national prizes like: 
Join Team UofL on Strava to log your rides and encourage/compete against your peers. Simply log your trips by bicycle for fun, fitness, or transportation from September 1-30, 2025. Get Healthy Now monthly premium incentive program participants can earn 200 points toward their 2026 $40 GHN monthly incentive for participating in Cycle Septermber! In order to be eligible, simply complete this short form. Check out our online resources for UofL Bicyclists - with handy maps, videos, and tips for getting around town care-free and car-free! And be sure to join us for our Cycle September Kickoff Event:
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| Aug. 18 - Nov. 24, 2025 |
Fall Garden Gatherings 2025 Mondays, 3pm at the Urban & Public Affairs Garden (426 W. Bloom St., behind Bettie Johnson Hall)Thursdays, noon 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. 18 - Nov. 24) 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. |
| 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. |
| Oct. 8, 2025 |
Adulting 101: A How-To Skill Fair Wednesday, Oct. 8th, noon-3pm, Humanities Quad Ready to level up your life skills? Join the Libraries Student Advisory Board for Adulting 101, a drop-in fair created just for our Cardinals. Swing by to connect with campus and community resources and learn essential life skills. Life outside of the classroom can be hard to navigate. We're here to help! Explore booths between classes, drop in and watch a presentation on a topic that matters to you, and grab some free food and swag. Need help with finances, wellness, or interview prep? Come by and take advantage of some of the most important resources at your disposal. Busy day? No worries! You can stop by and choose your own adventure at Adulting 101, no registration required. |
| Oct. 8, 2025 |
Research Panel: Voices from Students Against Apartheid South Africa Wednesday, Oct. 8th, 6-8pm, Ekstrom Library, Chao Auditorium To mark the 40th anniversary of the UofL Board of Trustees’ vote to divest from companies doing business with apartheid South Africa, UofL's Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research will host this panel to highlight the experiences and reflections of activists involved with Students Against Apartheid – the group that led the divestment campaign on campus in the 1980s. Panelists will be in conversation with faculty and student researchers who have been collecting archival material and oral histories about anti-apartheid activism in Louisville in the 1970s and 80s. Learn more. |
| Oct. 9, 2025 |
Cupcakes & Composting Thursday, Oct. 9th, 5-7pm, Red Barn ELSB Green Initiatives is teaming up with the Garden Commons and the UofL Community Composting Project for this fun event! We'll feast on cupcakes as we learn about he importance of composting and it's essential role in organic gardening and urban agriculture. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in the UofL Sustainability Council's our Free Compost Caddy Program which offers a free subscription service for anyone on campus who wants to begin collecting compostables in their dorm, apartment, or office (you'd be responsible for dumping the bin at one of our sites weekly and rinsing it out). We will have tables with chocolate cupcakes and various toppings to build your composting themed treats, while you learn how composting benefits our community and the Earth. RSVP on Engage. 
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| Oct. 11-12, 2025 |
Grand Gap Loop Backpacking Trip Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 11th-12th, Oneida, TN, $60 per person. Join Campus Recreation for a 12.5 mile overnight backpacking trip in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. This trail offers a chance for up close views of the Cumberland River. The trail turns into a steep climb that leads to the top of a bluff, where river overlooks offer a panoramic view of the Big South Fork. On the top of the bluff, the trail winds its way through beautiful mountain laurel and hardwood forest. Several overlooks of the river and creek valleys can be found along the way, such as the Angel Falls Overlook and the Fall Branch Overlook. Registration required. |
| Oct. 13, 2025 |
Cards Come Together Day of Service Monday, Oct. 13th, 9am-noon, various sites - Register here Join us this year for Cards Come Together, a day where UofL students, staff, faculty, and alumni come together to fully engage in the welfare and vitality of the Louisville metro area through service projects. Registration is required; sign-ups will close when maximum participation has been reached. All volunteers will receive a Cards Come Together t-shirt. Let’s come together to make a difference and show our Cardinal spirit through service at sites around campus. Volunteer opportunities include several sustainability sites:
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| Oct. 14, 2025 |
Research Talk: Housing, Utility Costs, and Climate Justice in Louisville: Applied Research on Rising Risks Tuesday, Oct. 14th, noon, virtual meeting on Microsoft Teams - Register here. Join UofL's Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research for this joint talk presenting local research on the rising risks to housing, utility costs, and everyday life from climate change. Dr. Nathaniel O’Grady, Assistant Professor in Human Geography and Disasters at the University of Manchester, researches lived experiences of climate-related disasters and their entanglement in urban planning processes. Sarah Pierce, the Housing and Energy Affordability Program Coordinator at the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, oversees MHC’s EveryHome program, which builds bridges between affordable housing and utilities. Register here. |
| Oct. 15-21, 2025 |
UofL Sustainability Week - Oct. 15-21, 2025
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| Oct. 15, 2025 |
18th Annual Campus Sustainability Day Fair Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 10am-2pm, Humanities Quad  Stop by the Humanities Quad for the 18th annual celebration of all things sustainable at UofL and in our community! Learn what campus and community groups are doing to create a sustainable revolution. Sign-up to get involved and leave with some green freebies, great information, and a smile on your face!
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| Oct. 15, 2025 |
Green Drinks featuring UofL’s Center for Transportation Innovation Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 6pm, Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub (822 E Broadway) The Louisville Sustainability Council’s Green Drinks is a casual monthly meet-up of community members and organizations, featuring different speakers from across the city to educate and inform the community on local happenings, projects, and initiatives. Each presentation is followed by Q&A, discussion, and networking. The October 15th Green Drinks will feature guests from UofL’s Center for Transportation Innovation at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. Come learn more about the Center's work as a focal point for innovative research on transportation-related issues that are of common interest to Louisville, Kentucky, and federal transportation agencies and authorities. The CTI performs innovative and applied research in the following areas: traffic operations and safety, transportation policy and decision making, transportation planning, intelligent transportation systems, smart city, connected and automated vehicles, and transportation-induced air pollution. Green Drinks takes place on the third Wednesday of every other month at 6pm at rotating venues around town. Learn more here. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 16, 2025 |
Victory Gardening Then and Now RESCHEDULED FOR: Thursday, Oct. 16th, noon, Garden Commons (at Baptist Center) Join us in UofL's organic, student-managed garden to learn how home gardens played a role in defeating global fascism and how we can harness that power again to undermine autocracy and re-democratize our food system. While the original context was wartime food shortages and supporting troops, modern victory gardens are driven by sustainability, health, and a desire for self-reliance. Today's gardens focus on reducing carbon footprints, promoting organic practices, and fostering stronger local economies. This is part of our fall series of Garden Workshops. The Garden Commons is a shared, collectively-managed space, open to participation any time from students, staff, faculty, and community members. Everyone who comes is welcome to share in the harvest! Connect with us and get all the details on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook Event. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 16-18, 2025 |
Ohio River Basin Confluence October 16-18, 2025 at the Kentucky International Convention Center For the first time, the Ohio River Basin Alliance, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, and the Ohio River Way are holding a special joint summit in place of their individual annual conferences. This event is hosted in conjunction with the University of Louisville Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, and Thomas More University. The Ohio River Basin Confluence Summit will take place October 16-18, 2025, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. We are excited to bring together advocates, professionals, and water leaders of all kinds to learn, plan, and build a diverse identity across our important river basin. This unique and collaborative effort is an opportunity to learn more about our partners and is representative of the momentum in the basin. Join us for memorable field trips, keynote speakers, breakout discussions, and networking with other Ohio River enthusiasts! The summit will bring together academics, government officials, non-profits, NGOs, and the general public to promote celebration, protection, and restoration of the Ohio River Basin. Learn more and register here. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 16-17, 2025 |
Author Event: Motown and the Making of Working Class Revolutionaries Thursday, Oct. 16th, 6-8pm, Carl Braden Center (3208 W Broadway) Friday, Oct. 17th, 10-11am, Ekstrom Library, Room 259 Join UofL's Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research at one of these two events with authors Jerome Scott and Dr. Walda Fish-Katzman for their new book “Motown and The Making of Working-Class Revolutionaries: The Story of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.” Join us for a discussion of the book’s oral history work, the League’s historic impact, and a book signing by the authors. For the first time, we get to hear directly from the workers themselves through oral history, exploring their Southern roots, powerful campaigns, and commitment to becoming "working-class intellectuals." Through hearing about the history of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and engaging in political discussion with Jerome and Walda, we will apply these lessons to today's struggle. The October 17th event at the ABI offices will feature coffee and pastries. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 17, 2025 |
“Climate Change is Spooky” Trivia Night Friday, Oct. 17th, 7-9pm, Belknap Village South 103 The Student Sustainability Coalition invites you to a fun-filled evening of trivia, costumes, prizes, food, and more! Teams can compete for hauntingly good prizes! There will be a costume contest and six rounds of trivia on Louisville, Halloween, and Sustainability. Trivia starts at 7pm. The SSC is also partnering with the UofL Free Store to collect costume donations, so please bring any costume pieces you would like to donate! Tickets are $5 and available for pre-order, just Venmo @theUofLSSC. Tickets can also be purchased with cash, card, or Venmo at the door. Please reach out to Mo Early (mrearl03@louisville.edu) with questions and concerns. This is a zero-waste event. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 18, 2025 |
Fairmount Falls Morning Hike Saturday, October 18th, 9-11am, Louisville, $5 per person. Join Campus Recreation for a hike to enjoy Louisville’s own 40 foot woodland waterfall. This short half-mile hike is filled with diverse plant life including ferns, wildflowers, mosses, shrubs, and native trees. We may also experience an abundance of wildlife with opportunities to see deer, turkey, upland birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Registration required. This is a UofL Sustainability Week event! |
| Oct. 22, 2025 |
Zero Waste Pumpkin Carving! Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, 6-8pm, Garden Commons at the Baptist Center Join UofL EcoReps in UofL's organic Garden Commons for a fun pumpkin carving event focused on using the whole pumpkin! As you carve, you'll learn about how to use all parts of the pumpkin and how to compost everything when you're done in order to grow new pumpkins for next year! We’ll have candy, costumes, and lots of spooky vibes! Pumpkins are first come, first serve! Facebook Event. |
| Oct. 23, 2025 |
The CLIMBS Extreme Precipitation Instrumentation and Field Project Thursday, Oct. 23rd, 2:30-3:45pm, BAB 218 Join us for the Fall 2025 Geographic and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series! Our speaker on October 23rd will be UofL professor Scott Gunter. The CLIMBS (Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction and Building Response Systems) Kentucky Climate Resilience program is an eight-institution collaboration including the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Thomas More University, that addresses fundamental knowledge gaps in climate-related understanding. Scott Gunter is a collaborator on CLIMBS Project 1 to enhance our weather understanding by expanding infrastructure and detecting high-impact events while also facilitating novel research advancing our understanding of their variability, trends and the larger-scale atmospheric and climatic conditions that influence them. The project also systematizes the state’s climatic records, predict climate sensitivity and future trends, contribute to 21st-century warning networks for at-risk communities, and educate the next generation of atmospheric science students. |
| Oct. 31, 2025 |
EcoReps Lunch & Learn: Industrial Composting with Smith Creek Friday, Oct. 31st, noon, Center for Belonging, Access & Engagement (Belknap Village North room 176) OR Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Join us for our monthly EcoReps workshop featuring locals making a difference in sustainability and a free vegetarian lunch! Our guest on October 31st will be Laura Veldman, the Senior Sourcing Manager at Smith Creek in Borden, Indiana. Smith Creek manages the industrial-scale composting operation where all of the food scraps from UofL Dining end up. Come learn what they are doing to keep organics out of the landfill and turn a problem into "black gold!" 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. |
| Nov. 13, 2025 |
Abolition Feminism and Anti-Racist Praxis Thursday, Nov. 13th, 6-7:30pm, Strickler Hall, Middleton Auditorium Join us for the 19th Annual Anne Braden Memorial Lecture, entitled “Abolition Feminism and Anti-Racist Praxis” featuring Dr. Beth Richie of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Richie’s extensive research examines how race and gender impact experiences of criminalization and justice, and she has long collaborated closely with communities, impacted individuals, and movements, including as a founding member of INCITE!: Women of Color Against Violence. She is Distinguished Professor of Criminology, Law, and Justice and of Black Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, author of “Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence, and America’s Prison Nation”; co-editor with teachers from Stateville Prison of “The Long Term: Resisting Life Sentences, Working Toward Freedom”; and co-author with Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, and Erica Meiners of “Abolition. Feminism. Now.” Learn more and register here. |
| Nov. 15, 2025 |
Pop-Up Drop-Off Community Recycling Event Saturday, Nov. 15th, 10am-2pm, UofL Shelby Campus Pop-Up Drop-Offs are free recycling and large item disposal events for residents of Jefferson County.
Items must already be separated into categories for easy off-loading so as much can be recycled as possible.This event sponsored by: Department of Public Works and Assets and the Louisville/Jefferson County Waste Management District.More info. |
| Nov. 20, 2025 |
Holiday Wreath Making Workshop Thursday, Nov. 20th, noon, Garden Commons (next to Baptist Center) Join us in UofL's organic, student-managed garden to get in the holiday spirit! Come learn how to make your own beautiful wreath using a variety of plant materials from campus and herbs from our garden. It's easier than you might think, and you'll take home something beautiful, great smelling, and unique! This is the last in our fall series of Garden Workshops. The Garden Commons is a shared, collectively-managed space, open to participation any time from students, staff, faculty, and community members. Everyone who comes is welcome to share in the harvest! Connect with us and get all the details on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook Event. |
| Nov. 20, 2025 |
Population and Demographic Shifts in a Changing World Thursday, Nov. 20th, 2:30-3:45pm, BAB 218 Join us for the Fall 2025 Geographic and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series! Our speaker on November 20th will be Andrew Zimmer, a Geospatial Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Andrew is in the Human Geography group at Oak Ridge, where he contributes to the LandScan program, advancing high-resolution global population datasets. His research focuses on the intersections of human-environment geography, population dynamics, and urbanization. Before joining ORNL, he served as a Research Scientist at Montana State University, where he led assessments of urban demographic trends and population exposure to climate hazards. Andrew earned his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Arizona, with a dissertation examining the interplay between climate variability, urban population change, and food security in African cities. He also holds an M.S. and a B.A. in Geography from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. At this seminar, he'll be discussing "Population and Demographic Shifts in a Changing World." |
| Nov. 21, 2025 |
EcoReps Lunch & Learn: Louisville Climate Action Network Friday, Nov. 21st, noon, Center for Belonging, Access & Engagement (Belknap Village North room 176) OR Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Join us for our monthly EcoReps workshop featuring locals making a difference in sustainability and a free vegetarian lunch! Our guest on November 21st will be Sarah Lynn Cunningham, Executive Director of the Louisville Climate Action Network. LCAN is the go-to source for reliable, action-inspiring information on climate change, its impacts and its many solutions. They work collaboratively for a healthy climate, operating efficiently, on sustainable energy -- equitably distributed and used, utilizing strategies and tactics that are inclusive, democratic, equitable and resilient. 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. |
| March 9-25, 2026 |
Great American Road Trip - Mount Rushmore and the Black Elk Wilderness March 9th-15th, 2026, Keystone, South Dakota, $120 per person. Join Campus Recreation for a multi-day road trip to Mount Rushmore National Monument and spend time hiking and camping in the Black Elk Wilderness. This trip involves primitive camping, hiking, and spectacular views of National Monuments. Registration required. |
| March 28, 2026 |
Mountain Biking Saturday, March 28th, 9am-3pm, Cherokee Park 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. Free and all equipment provided, but spots are limited. Registration required. |
| April 4, 2025 |
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. |
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