Learn more about the sun at a free lecture and observation session called "The Sun in the Year of Solar Maximum" beginning at noon, Saturday, July 14, in Lecture Room 1 of Van Allen Hall.

A free screening of the film "An Oversimplification of Her Beauty" will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 7, in room 101 of the Becker Communication Studies Building on the UI campus.

Sample four novels, including three by instructors from the Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa, in free readings July 16-18 at Prairie Lights Books, or through the UI Virtual Writing University website.

The National Young Farmers Coalition organized the first Midwestern Farm Hack recently at the University of Iowa. Farm Hack brings together farmers and engineers to create more efficient sustainable small farms.

Poetry will take the lead in free readings at 7 p.m. July 10-12, and live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

The comic mystery 'Sherlock’s Last Case' by Charles Marowitz is the final full production in the 2012 Iowa Summer Rep season of “Chills and Thrills.” It will open at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12.

Baritone Stephen Swanson and pianist David Gompper perform July 8 concert in preparation for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Executing five days of activities for some 4,500 students is no small undertaking—On Iowa! is fueled by the work of hundreds of volunteers.

Iowa artist Judy Bales will host a lecture and workshop Saturday, July 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Supreme Court Chamber of the University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum. The talk features examples of her work and a discussion on the creative processes of these works of art.

Anne Greenwood Brown will read from her new young adult novel at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 30, in Prairie Lights Books and on a Writing University live stream from the University of Iowa.

Come celebrate mid-summer at the University of Iowa Museum of Art’s First Friday event. For $5, enjoy music, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres with fellow art lovers at Vesta Restaurant, located at Iowa River Landing in Coralville from 5-7 p.m. on July 6.

Novelists Steven Torriano Berry and Elizabeth Crane will read from their new books in free June 27 and 28 events at Prairie Lights Books.