NASA's Juno spacecraft will pass within 350 miles of Earth's surface Oct. 9 before it slingshots off into space on a historic exploration of Jupiter. Bill Kurth has been involved with the mission since the beginning and is one of the lead investigators on the Waves instrument aboard the craft.

The threat of severe weather might have altered some Homecoming 2013 plans, but it certainly wasn't enough to sweep away the assembly of Hawkeye spirit in Iowa City on Oct. 4 and 5.

Derek Porter, director of the MFA lighting design program at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, will discuss his work in a lecture, “Explorations in Light,” Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 240 of Art Building West on the UI campus.

Forty years ago, alumni of the Hawkeye Marching Band decided to relive the old glory of performing the Iowa Fight Song and other songs devoted to their alma mater. The tradition has lived on ever since.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a concert by the jazz quartet Koplant No at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in the University Capitol Centre Recital Hall on the UI campus. The performance is free, and the public is welcome.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a free concert by the UI Symphony Band and the UI Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the Second Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union.

Christopher Merrill, director of the University of Iowa International Writing Program, will read from his most recent books of poetry, "Boat" and "Necessities," at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights will host a community-based, humanitarian aid summit for Syria Tuesday Oct. 15, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Jones Commons, Room 300 in Lindquist Center North on the UI campus.

The Iowa City Book Festival will celebrate its fifth year in the City of Literature with an ambitious and varied slate of programming that includes more than 70 events from Oct. 10-13. Several events have University of Iowa ties, including a discussion with Writers' Workshop affiliates in the Englert Theatre.

The University of Iowa National Speech-Language and Hearing Association will host a benefit auction Friday Oct. 18, at the University Athletic Club.The evening includes a buffet style dinner and live music. Proceeds will go toward student scholarships and client services.

In 1951, cells from cancer patient Henrietta Lacks were used in research without her consent. Those cells, called HeLa, have contributed to many medical breakthroughs, along with raising questions about science, ethics, and privacy. Two members of the Lacks family will give talks in Iowa City on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Live coverage of the University of Iowa's annual Homcoming parade, starting 5:45 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.