Everywhere, All the Time
IIHR's outreach program is known for being "everywhere, all the time." Our program is dedicated to public service and sharing our applied research broadly to develop solutions to real-world problems.
Our team regularly engages in outreach events, from hosting FIRST LEGO League teams to inspire the next generation of engineers to attending city council meetings to offer technical support to address local water resource concerns—we do it all! Contact us to discuss how we can support your group, event, or program. View upcoming and past events below.
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Annual Outreach Events
Connecting with community leaders, policymakers, agencies, K-12 students, and the public.
Upcoming Events
Discover Your University: Iowa Geological Survey Tour
Thursday, October 9, 2025 10:30am to 12:00pm
The Iowa Geological Survey joined IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering and the University of Iowa in 2014. The IGS has more than 130 years of experience in helping to understand and effectively manage Iowa's natural resources for long-term sustainability and economic development and has advanced IIHR research initiatives to include surface to subsurface and flood and drought interactions and impacts on Iowans.Participants will tour the IGS's impressive rock library, containing over 1.6 million...
Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource with Royal C. Gardner
Friday, October 10, 2025 12:45pm to 2:00pm
Waters of the United States is an unprecedented exploration of the history of the 'waters of the United States'—and its importance for today’s efforts to conserve a critical natural resource.
Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival
Thursday, October 16, 2025 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of STEM with us at our upcoming festival, where the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) come alive for students and families across Iowa! This vibrant celebration is not just about fun; it's about igniting a passion for learning and discovery in our youth. Explore hands-on activities that spark curiosity, while raising awareness of the importance of STEM-related educational and career opportunities for families. So, come...
Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Join for a public presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA) report.
From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed
Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Join us for a timely panel discussion exploring how states, communities, and advocates are responding to the regulatory and environmental uncertainties left in the wake of the Sackett v. EPA decision. With a focus on wetlands and water protections across the Mississippi River watershed—from the bluffs of the Driftless Region to the bayous of the Delta—this conversation brings together regional experts to highlight innovative legal, policy, and collaborative approaches for safeguarding critical...
Past Events
Read Aloud at the Lagoon Shelter House: Tending Iowa's Land
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:00am to 2:00pm
Iowa has stories to tell: hard lessons learned from soil loss, compromised water quality, and fragmented natural systems, but also proven solutions built on knowing and doing better that are ready to scale up.In Tending Iowa's Land, local researcher and writer Cornelia Mutel offers a collection of essays and personal stories from experts and everyday people that prove the challenges and explore the pathways to a regenerative future for our natural environment.Help give voice to these stories on...
Iowa Geological Survey Field Day
Saturday, September 20, 2025 10:00am to 1:00pm
The Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) invites partners, stakeholders, and interested citizens to join us to learn more about our recent mapping project in southeast Iowa. Geologists from the Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) spent more than six years mapping the surficial and bedrock geology of Des Moines and Lee counties. From glaciers that came from the east (not the north!) to 350-million-year-old rock formations loaded with marine fossils, southeastern Iowa has an amazing geological history! Come to the Mediapolis Quarry for an open house event and talk to the geologists who mapped the region.
SEES 7000 Colloquium: Dr. Dave Cwiertny (Civil and Environmental Engineering / IIHR - Hydroscience and Engineering)
Thursday, September 18, 2025 3:30pm
Title: PFAS in Iowa: There is much work to be doneAbstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, are a family of several thousand chemicals made primarily of carbon and fluorine atoms that have been widely used in industry and commerce since at least the 1950s. Popularly referred to as "forever chemicals" because of their general resistance to degradation, PFAS chemicals pose a significant ecological and human health threat due to their toxicity and bioaccumulative...