A new book edited by University of Iowa American studies doctoral students Nicholas Yanes and Derrais Carter looks at President Barack Obama's candidacy and first year of presidency through a pop culture lens.

Public Policy Center director and College of Dentistry faculty member Peter Damiano presents at the next "Finding God at Iowa" forum Friday, Oct. 12, at noon in the Ohio State Room (343) in the Iowa Memorial Union.

The Hawkeye wrestling team opens practice for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday with former wrestler Luke Lofthouse as the new strength and conditioning coach.

Oglala Vice President Tom Poor Bear will speak at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in Room S401 of the Pappajohn Business Building, to share why the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is a threat to the Oglala Lakota Nation and other native peoples and native lands.

The University of Iowa’s Hancher will present "It Gets Better," an anti-bullying production based on the video project of the same name, on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge on the UI campus.

Anthony Arnone, associate professor of cello in the University of Iowa School of Music, will perform with pianist Martha Eckey, a UI School of Music alumna and current UI College of Pharmacy student, at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14, in Riverside Recital Hall on the UI campus.

Marianne Smith, assistant professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Nursing, was recently awarded a five-year Research Project Grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health.

The north lane of Jefferson Street, directly in front of Calvin Hall, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 13.

Science fiction comes to the stage: The Gallery series of the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts will present The Stellification, a student production written by Bella Poynton and directed by Janet Schlapkohl, at 8 p.m., Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 18–20, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21, in Theatre B of the UI Theatre Building.

The University of Iowa, with other institutions, is examining why tractor driving is dangerous for young people who work on farms by testing their cognitive abilities to operate the machinery, using the UI's National Advanced Driving Simulator.

A recent report from the federal government shows births in the United States declining for a fourth consecutive year, but University of Iowa economist Alice Schoonbroodt thinks it will accelerate again once the economy improves.

A number of campus events over the next few weeks will reflect on the responsibilities of science and scientists to the broader culture, including an exhibit, "Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature," which runs through Nov. 2.