This free, public event will feature Dr. Kurt Panter, Professor of Geology at Bowling Green State University, along with panelist and collaborator Katherine (Katie) Shanks, M.S. candidate at BGSU. Dr. Panter and Ms. Shanks will present findings from their recent 65-day expedition (February–April 2025) to study undersea volcanoes in the Ross Sea. Working aboard the research icebreaker RV Nathaniel B. Palmer during a project funded by the National Science Foundation, the team explored the seafloor using sonar mapping, underwater cameras, heat probes, and rock dredging. Their research focuses on understanding how volcanoes and glaciers interact in ocean environments, particularly in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of fascinating science, discovery, and conversation! For any questions or concerns, please contact Emma Jackman at ejackma@bgsu.edu.

Silkroad musicians, Karen Ouzounian & Mazz Swift, will present a public youth program that includes music and discussion. Kindergarten through middle school students, parents and caregivers are welcome.  

The Wood County District Public Library will host a free film screening and discussion of Dick Fontaine and Pat Hartley's recently restored documentary, I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1982), led by Dr. Rachel Ann Walsh, Institute for the Study of Culture and Society Fellow, Fall 2025. I Heard It Through the Grapevine follows author and activist James Baldwin as he revisits sites of the American South that he first experienced during his 1957 reporting on the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout, Baldwin talks with fellow authors, scholars, and activists about ongoing Black freedom struggles and attempts to dismantle the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. 

Join us for the first event in the Community Reads Gathering series, led by Tim Murnen, professor in the School of Inclusive Teacher Education. This discussion will explore themes from the chapter Skywoman Falling in Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s acclaimed book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Why attend Explore the intersection of Indigenous wisdom, ecology and storytelling Be part of a campus-wide series unpacking the powerful lessons in Braiding Sweetgrass This is the first in a series of Community Reads events, each highlighting a different chapter from Braiding Sweetgrass and led by faculty across BGSU