The U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Geological Survey, Office of the State Archaeologist, and Iowa Limestone Producers Association are working together to teach RAGBRAI riders about the land that’s rolling by under their tires. The “Learn About the Land” brochure, produced every year, details the bike route’s natural resources.

David McCartney, university archivist in University of Iowa Libraries, delivered a paper, “Documenting Activism: How the Digital Humanities Can Uncover the History of Protest,” June 16 at the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) conference in Washington, D.C.

Dan McGehee, of the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa, says safety is the main benefit of high-tech cars.

President Harreld discusses the importance of faculty research and scholarship to student success, noting that when faculty pursue their own academic interests, they both expand our knowledge and inspire their students.

Executive Director of Hancher Auditorium Chuck Swanson hails from Spencer, Iowa, the first overnight stop on the 2017 RAGBRAI route. Swanson shares not only his but the University of Iowa’s connection to the town, including a permanent mural in Hancher that Spencer middle school students worked on.

The University of Iowa will begin accepting proposals from firms interested in reviewing employment policies and practices as defined by the Iowa Civil Rights Act, as well as internal university policies. The deadline for proposals is Aug. 17.

Lena Hill has been appointed interim chief diversity officer and associate vice president and Monique DiCarlo has been appointed Title IX coordinator by UI President J. Bruce Harreld. A search for a new chief diversity officer will begin in late fall or early spring.

Twenty-five Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellows arrived in Iowa City June 16 to learn about the American economy and the basics of operating their own business. During their six-week stay, the fellows have been traveling across the state visiting farms, religious institutions, art galleries, and large businesses.

The Perry Research Scholars Institute, a two-week summer camp program for eighth-, ninth-, and 10th-graders organized by the College of Education’s Belin-Blank Center, introduces high school students to a variety of academic research so they can explore their interests and plan for the future.

Thirty-nine middle school students from around the Iowa City area participated in a youth camp sponsored by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship. The weeklong camps teach participants the entrepreneurial mindset and expose them to innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.

Fiscal year 2017 saw an estimated 1 percent increase in both total external funding and funding that supports research and scholarship at the University of Iowa.

More than 140 high school students from around Iowa, the U.S., and countries like Italy, China, South Korea, and Canada have come to the University of Iowa to learn at the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio. The students spend two weeks honing their craft and immersing themselves in Iowa City culture.