The Civil War experiences of six eastern Iowans, including two with links to the University of Iowa and its Old Capitol building, are the focus of a free public lecture set for Thursday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Hanson Family Humanities Gallery of the UI’s Old Capitol Museum.

The Get to Know series asks University of Iowa faculty and staff a few questions about their work and their outside interests. Today we visit with UI Alumni Association CEO Vince Nelson.

Andrew Shepherd, UI postdoctoral scholar in pharmacology, studies cell processes that regulate potassium. When the balance of potassium is disturbed, cell death may occur. Shepherd focuses on a mechanism underlying the regulation of neuronal excitability, survival, and death—processes central to such diseases as epilepsy, neuro-HIV, and stroke.

Students living in the University of Iowa residence halls can help reduce the amount of landfill waste at move-out by participating in a Year-end Donation Drive on Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16.

Nearly 5,200 University of Iowa students will receive their degrees during spring 2013 commencement ceremonies May 16-18 and June 7, including dual ceremonies for liberal arts and sciences graduates.

University staff, faculty, students, and alumni are accomplishing great things every day. See who’s making news with awards, publications, promotion and tenure, and more.

The University of Iowa has partnered with the Iowa Children's Museum on "Playing is Learning," an initiative to reintroduce children, and their parents, to the concept of play. The kickoff event is May 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the children's museum in Coralville.

Two University of Iowa alumnae have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research internationally in 2013-14. This year's UI recipients are Margaret Ross and Rebecca McCray.

Death notices for current and retired UI employees. Links to online obituaries provided when available.

A friendship between public health graduate students Mandy Schey and Shawn Zierke helped spark the development of a new fitness program for patients receiving weight loss surgery at the UI.

Researchers at the University of Iowa and colleagues at Cornell University have received a five-year, $10.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue their work investigating the biological links between high blood pressure and obesity.

A new lightning protection system was recently installed in the state champion walnut tree on the University of Iowa Pentacrest.