The University of Iowa College of Education’s Teacher Leader Center will host a panel discussion “Tweet the Good: Positive Social Media in Schools,” from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. The discussion will take place in Room N140 Lindquist Center and is free and open to the public.

April is Earth Month, and University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums will offer visitors information on how to care for our planet at home and away as well as a month’s worth of movies with environmental themes.

Steve Hendrix, a UI biology professor, was recently named the director of academics and research at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory in Milford, Iowa, where he has conducted research and shared his expertise since 1975.

Five Iowans who were equal rights advocates and likely involved in the Underground Railroad will be the subject of a free public lecture on Thursday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber of the University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum.

New media journalism—blogs, social media sites, and the like—are often heralded as the future of journalism. But Columbia University Professor Todd Gitlin, a renowned media scholar, journalist, sociologist, and writer, thinks mainstream journalism remains crucial—even though it often does a lousy job.

The Senior Project connects high school students with area seniors. Their work together will result in written portraits of new friends made across the generations.

The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums offer exhibits and tours to enjoy the week of March 17. Old Capitol Museum is open normal hours through Thursday, March 21, and closes Friday, March 22, for the National History Day Competition. The UI Museum of Natural History is open normal hours all week.

Brian Kaskie, associate director for public policy at the UI’s Center on Aging, says that some people find it necessary to work to make ends meet or just to live their retirement years in the fullest possible way in a story on the growing number of retirees continuing to work.

Elise Fillpot, a UI College of Education alumna, created an innovative social studies curriculum called Bringing History Home, designed to invigorate history education at the elementary level and provide a model to teach children to engage with historical photography and documents.

Natalya Hutchinson was among the 137 medical students in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine who found out where they will serve their residencies during Match Day 2013.

Some University of Iowa students are opting for alternative, or service-learning, spring breaks including public health work in Memphis, Tenn., according to Paul Mintner with the UI Center for Student Involvement and Leadership. (Note: A paid subscription may be required.)

The University of Iowa is among a growing number of colleges nationally that are trying to make summer school more viable. UI officials recently announced that this fall's freshman class will be able to take summer classes for free starting in 2014.