Former Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla to Speak at NIU

NIU students have a unique opportunity this October to hear from Dr. H.M. Jusuf Kalla, former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, during his visit to campus as NIU's Distinguished Global Leader in Residence.

Vice President Kalla will be at NIU from October 12-23, 2026, sharing his experience and perspectives through a series of public lectures addressing Indonesian politics, regional autonomy, peacebuilding, sustainable development, and the transition to a greener economy.

Environmental Studies students may be particularly interested in two lectures on Tuesday, October 20, exploring the connections among economic development, sustainability, technology, industry, and employment.

Lecture Schedule

Tuesday, October 13 | 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Power Closer to the People: The Impact and Consequences of Regional Autonomy in Indonesia
DuSable Hall, Room 176

Thursday, October 15 | 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Main Public Lecture
Indonesia at a Crossroads: What's Changing in Its Politics, and Why
Altgeld Hall, Room 315, Board of Trustees Room

Monday, October 19 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lessons from the Search for Peace: Aceh, Afghanistan, and Southern Thailand
Latino Resource Center, 515 Garden Road, DeKalb

Tuesday, October 20 | 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Growing Fast, Growing Green: Can Developing Countries Achieve Both?
La Tourette Hall, Room 201

This lecture will examine a question at the heart of environmental studies: how countries can pursue economic development while also addressing environmental sustainability.

Tuesday, October 20 | 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Making the Green Transition Work: Industry, Technology, and Jobs in Indonesia's Political Economy
DuSable Hall, Room 140

This discussion will explore how industry, technology, employment, and public policy intersect as countries transition toward greener economies.

Indonesia and NIU have longstanding connections, making this an especially valuable opportunity to learn from an international leader with extensive experience in government, economic development, conflict resolution, and public policy.

All lectures are free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Students are encouraged to attend one or more sessions and take advantage of this unusual opportunity to connect classroom topics with the experiences of a major international leader.

Job Opportunity: Genotyping Lab Technician at Syngenta

Job Opportunity: Genotyping Lab Technician at Syngenta

Are you graduating soon or looking for an opportunity to build hands-on laboratory experience in genetics, plant science, or agriculture?

A former NIU student currently working in Syngenta’s Genotyping Lab in Malta, Illinois, shared a job opportunity that may be a great fit for Environmental Studies students and recent graduates interested in laboratory science, biotechnology, genetics, agriculture, and related fields.

Genotyping Lab Technician

Location: Malta, Illinois
Employer: Syngenta
Position: Temporary Genotyping Lab Technician
Pay: $22 per hour

Syngenta’s genotyping laboratory uses laboratory technology and automation to produce genetic data used by plant breeders. Technicians help prepare and process plant samples, perform laboratory testing, operate equipment, track samples through the laboratory process, and work collaboratively with other lab staff.

Applicants should be working toward or have completed a bachelor’s degree in biology, genetics, microbiology, agriculture, or a related field. Previous laboratory experience is preferred but not required. The position may be especially useful for students or recent graduates looking to gain experience with DNA-related laboratory work, automated laboratory equipment, and scientific data management.

The NIU alum who shared this opportunity noted that the lab expects to hire additional employees throughout this year and into next year, so students approaching graduation may also want to keep Syngenta on their radar for future openings.

Learn More and Apply

View the full position description and application information:

Genotyping Lab Technician – Syngenta

The current posting was published October 6, 2026. Interested students are encouraged to review the posting and apply while the position is available.

Become a Regeneration Field Institute Campus Representative

 Northern Illinois University undergraduate students are invited to apply to become a Campus Representative for the Regeneration Field Institute (RFI), a field-based research and education institute in Ecuador focused on regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, soil restoration, and the bioeconomy.

RFI is seeking one to two undergraduate students to serve as student leaders and research-collaboration facilitators at universities across the United States. Campus Representatives help connect students, professors, researchers, advisors, and campus organizations with opportunities for hands-on field learning in Ecuador.

What Campus Representatives Do

Campus Representatives may assist with:

• Outreach and networking
• Public speaking and campus promotion
• Weekly meetings, training, and support
• Mentoring from RFI staff
• Connecting students and faculty with RFI research and education opportunities

Students will have opportunities to learn about topics including bamboo construction, regenerative agroforestry, GIS, soil science, and more.

Spring 2027 Field Program in Ecuador

RFI will host a hands-on education program in Ecuador March 6-13, 2027. Participants will work alongside Farmer Field School leaders to plant and prune regenerative agroforestry systems.

Campus Representatives may have the opportunity to earn a full scholarship to travel to Ecuador.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to all undergraduate students. Students interested in environmental studies, sustainability, agriculture, restoration, ecology, geography, soil science, international education, community engagement, or related fields may find the experience especially relevant.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested students are encouraged to apply soon.

Learn More and Apply

Visit the Regeneration Field Institute Campus Representative page:

https://regenerationfieldinstitute.com/campus-rep

Learn more about the Regeneration Field Institute at:

https://regenerationfieldinstitute.com/

Earthrise 815: Sustainability Action Conference

Students interested in sustainability, climate action, environmental policy, community planning, energy, and environmental careers are invited to attend Earthrise 815: A Sustainability Action Conference on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Rockford, Illinois.

Presented by Sustain Rockford, Earthrise 815 will bring together community members, sustainability professionals, business owners, and local leaders to explore ways to put the Rockford region's Climate Action Plan into practice. The full-day conference will feature 21 breakout sessions, an exhibit hall with local organizations and resources, and a locally sourced, low-waste lunch. Earthrise 815

Bill McKibben, environmentalist, author, and founder of Third Act and 350.org, will deliver the keynote address. Featured speakers include Doug Scott, Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and author and speaker Mark Charles. Earthrise 815

For Environmental Studies students, this is an opportunity to learn how sustainability and climate planning move from ideas to implementation, hear from professionals working in the field, and connect with organizations and leaders from across the Rockford region.

When: Friday, November 6, 2026
Where: Embassy Suites Conference Center, 416 S. Main St., Rockford, IL
Registration begins: 7:30 a.m.
Conference programming begins: 8:15 a.m. Earthrise 815

Learn more and register for Earthrise 815

Center for Southeast Asian Studies Fall 2026 Lecture Series

The NIU Center for Southeast Asian Studies is hosting its Fall 2026 Lecture Series, featuring scholars and practitioners discussing health, history, philosophy, conservation, global economic systems and more. Most lectures are offered Fridays at noon, with both in-person and online attendance options.

Upcoming events include:

• Friday, Sept. 25 at noon
  “The Indonesian American Family Health Project: Exploring Experiences of Acculturation and Well-being”
  Presented by Tomoyuki Shibata, Duhita Mahatmya, Florensia F. Surjadi and Riyani.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
  The presentation will explore experiences of acculturation and well-being among Indonesian American families.
• Friday, Oct. 2 at noon
  “Historical Maps and Trade Systems in Maritime Pacific: 17th to 19th Centuries”
  Presented by Richard Pegg, Director and Curator of Asian Art at the MacLean Collection.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 9 at noon
  “Anger as Compost: Thich Nhat Hanh, Myisha Cherry, and Rage as Skillful Means”
  Presented by Logan Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at NIU.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 16 at noon
  “Saving Asia’s Threatened Trees: From Assessment to Action”
  Presented by Kate Good and Amy Byrne of The Morton Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
  This lecture is cosponsored by NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy and may be especially relevant for Environmental Studies students interested in biodiversity, conservation and applied environmental work.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at noon
  “Burmese Buddha Biography: Weathervane for Changing Times”
  Presented by Lilian Handlin, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University.
  Location: Altgeld Hall, Room 125, and online.
• Friday, Oct. 30 at noon
  “Indonesia in Global Value Chains: Understanding the New Economic Imperialism”
  Presented by Intan Suwandi, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Illinois State University.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.

Council on Thai Studies Annual Conference

The Council on Thai Studies Annual Conference (COTS) will take place Nov. 6-8. The conference is free to attend, but registration is required by Oct. 1.

• Friday, Nov. 13 at noon
  “More than a Sideshow: U.S. Propaganda Campaigns & the Global Color Line in Cold War Cambodia, 1955-1970”
  Presented by Ron Leonhardt, Assistant Professor of History at Missouri State University.
  Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100, and online.
• Friday, Nov. 20 at noon
  “Reframing Reconciliation: Hóa Giải and the Paths of Healing the Past”
  Presented by Alex-Thai Dinh Vo, Research Assistant Professor at the Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University.
  Location: Online only. Registration is required.

For more information about the lecture series, contact Rachael Skog at 815-753-1595 or rskog@niu.edu.