The University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William LaRue Jones, will perform works by Richard Strauss, Benjamin Britten, Patrick Harlin, and Felix Mendelssohn in a free concert featuring faculty pianist Uriel Tsachor at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union.

University of Iowa students may participate in professional seminars and workshops during the 2012 Iowa Museum Association annual conference, Sunday, Oct. 21 through Tuesday, Oct. 23, in Iowa City. This year’s event is hosted by UI Pentacrest Museums.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the composition of Sylvia Plath's Ariel poems, members of the Writers' Workshop faculty will join Robyn Schiff, director of undergraduate writing at the University of Iowa, to read from the collection at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30, in a free Prairie Lights reading streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

Susan Wheeler’s "Meme," the latest offering from the University of Iowa Press’ Kuhl House Poets series, has been selected as a finalist for this year's National Book Award.

Mitt Romney has been making a comeback on the Iowa Electronic Markets in recent weeks, but Barack Obama is still a 2-to-1 favorite to win the popular vote in November.

The University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator recently received a new $650,000 research contract from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to research ways of detecting drowsy, distracted, and alcohol-impaired driving.

The Sphinx Virtuosi, an ensemble made up of top alumni soloists for the national Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players, will perform in the West High School auditorium Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m.

Business and 3D imaging of the Earth will be the subject of a University of Iowa College of Engineering seminar from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in Room W10 of the John Pappajohn Business Building on the UI campus.

Hualing Nieh Engle, co-founder of the University of Iowa International Writing Program, is the 2012 recipient of the university's International Impact Award. The UI graduate and professor emerita is being honored for her vision in creating the program, her commitment to freedom of expression around the globe, and her efforts to internationalize the UI campus.

The Improving Our Workplace Award (IOWA) Review Committee is accepting nominations through Nov. 1. Check out these stories of past winners, and consider nominating an individual staff member or team in your unit who is making a difference on the University of Iowa campus.

Laurel Whitis, a graduate student in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, spent a good portion of the summer driving across Iowa with a precious commodity in tow. She wasn’t transporting jewels or cash, but what many might call “white gold”—donated human breast milk to be given to premature babies.

This Saturday, Hawks Nest and the University of Iowa Student Government (UISG) are challenging students to welcome the Hawkeye football team's Big Ten rival Penn State with respect.