Saving Asia’s Threatened Trees: From Assessment to Action

Learn how international partnerships are helping protect some of Asia’s most threatened tree species during a special presentation by conservation professionals from The Morton Arboretum.

Kate Good, research manager, and Amy Byrne, strategic partnerships manager, will share insights from the Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program. Their presentation will explore how researchers assess threats to tree species and translate their findings into collaborative conservation action.

Students interested in biodiversity, conservation, environmental research, nonprofit organizations or international environmental work are encouraged to attend.

Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
Time: Noon
Location: Peters Campus Life Building, Room 100
Attendance option: In person or online

This event is cosponsored by the NIU Center for Southeast Asian Studies and the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy.

Water Quality and Resources in the Yucatan Peninsula - REU Poster Session

 

Saving Asia’s Threatened Trees at The Morton Arboretum

Interested in biodiversity, tree conservation or international environmental partnerships? The Global Tree Conservation Program team will present “Saving Asia’s Threatened Trees: Global Partnerships in Action” during the Destination Asia Festival at The Morton Arboretum on Aug. 1 and 2.

The presentation is open to the public and designed for a general audience. Students can also enjoy the festival and explore the Arboretum during their visit.

Students who register for the presentation and email their name to Kate Good at kgood@mortonarb.org can receive free admission to The Morton Arboretum for the day.

[Register for the presentation and learn more.]

Updated - LEED Training Workshops - 2026 Webinars

 LEED Green Associate Certification: 2026 Workshops

Start your year off strongly by becoming a LEED Green Associate professional and show employers your certified knowledge in sustainability before May 2026, when the LEED exam is set to become more challenging. While LEED itself is a scorecard to rate Green Buildings, students and professionals can also become LEED accredited demonstrating their expertise in sustainability.

- LEED: Is the #1 Sustainability Certification and is recognized globally
- Valuable Credential: Adds an industry-recognized certification that boosts employability.
- Open to All: Available for students of all years, with no prior experience required as our workshop has helped over 15,000 pass their exam.
- Time Sensitive: Those who pass before May 2026 will not be required to take the updated and more challenging new exam.
- Affordable: Limited time student discounts are available for you!
- High Pass Rate: Our workshops focus not just on passing the test, but on providing a deep understanding of the material which significantly improves your chances of success, especially considering the exam's historically low pass rate.

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training - Webinar and Online self-paced options:

I will be offering live webinars that can be streamed on any of the following dates:

1. February 14 2026 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EST
2. March 14 2026 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EDT
3. April 11 2026 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EDT - OR -
4. On-demand recordings completed at your own pace

The above options (1-4) are all identical.

Register for a live online seminar or start today with our on-demand recorded workshop completed anytime at your own pace here - https://leadinggreen.com/online

Both options offer comprehensive training, practice exams, valuable tips, and required textbooks - all led by a USGBC Faculty member. It's the most efficient and affordable way to master the material without breaking the bank!

Cost: $200 with the coupon code ‘green’ for $100 off! (Non-students $300)

Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at info@leadinggreen.com

Introduction to Benefit-Cost Analysis Workshop (Undergrads encouraged!)

Ever wonder how governments and organizations decide whether an environmental project is worth doing? Join us for an engaging introduction to Benefit-Cost Analysis, where you'll learn the practical steps for evaluating projects - from saving endangered species to building green infrastructure - and discover how economics can help make better decisions for society and the environment.

The NIU Department of Economics and the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy invite you to an introductory Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Workshop on November 13 and 14, featuring environmental economist Dr. Allen Bellas from Metro State University. Co-sponsors of the event include the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS) and the School of Public and Global Affairs, and will be hosted by 71 North Innovation Partnership Studio.

 

BCA Basics – How to Do an Honest BCA in Ten Steps

Wednesday, 3:30-5 pm

1^st floor of the library, the large open space past Einstein Bagels

This session is open to all, and will be accessible to anyone interested/BCA beginners. Undergrad students and community members interested in about BCA are highly encouraged to attend!

 

The session will take place in the 71 North Innovation Partnership Studio, in the first floor of Founders Library. Registration ahead of time is appreciated; here is the link: https://forms.office.com/r/vqBWwQB5Tn

 

NIU Events Calendar Link: https://calendar.niu.edu/event/benefit-cost-analysis-workshop

Fulbright Student Program information session: Thursday, April 20th

Dr. Taylor Atkins is currently serving as NIU's Fulbright Program Advisor.  We are writing to ask that you share this information with undergraduates for whom graduation is nigh, as well as with your graduate students.

 

Dr. Atkins will be hosting an informational meeting on the Fulbright Student Program and talking about the application process for the 2024-25 awards cycle in DuSable Hall, Room 348, on Thursday, April 20, 3:00-4:00 PM.  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED at http://go.niu.edu/fulbrightworkshop

 

A flier is attached. For more information on the program's two options--research and English teaching assistant--please use the link below.

 

https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-us-student-program

US Fulbright Program - Fulbright U.S. Student Program The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. us.fulbrightonline.org

 

Global Circular Challenge - Student Competition on the Circular Economy

The GCC (Global Circular Challenge) competition will be held in the spring of 2021 in partnership with the London School of Economics Department of Geography and Environment, with the virtual finals to take place March 11-13, 2021. Teams will be charged with designing solutions that improve the sourcing, manufacturing, use and disposability of fashion products in a circular world. 

The GCC is a brand new, high-energy competition featuring a unique combination of design thinking workshops and feedback from global fashion experts throughout the competition. The challenge will take place in two parts: 1) Seven weeks of pre-finals team work structured around weekly learning modules, including design thinking and other related topics; 2) Virtual finals March 11-13, 2021 where the teams will go through semi-finals and a final round of competition. 

Here are features that make the GCC competition unique:

1)     Hands-on learning through design thinking workshops so students can try new skills and immediately apply them to the fashion industry.

2)     Product feedback from global fashion experts

3)     Exposure to judges from that could transform the participants’ ideas into viable concepts and businesses

4)     A network of global like-minded change leaders engaged in the circular economy

5)     Awareness of the fashion industry transformation and its impact on economies and societies globally

 
Register today: Please have your teams register using this link https://oxy.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5mXEjKCt7fz5Sfj by December 21, 2020.

For more information, please see our website here: https://www.lse.ac.uk/geography-and-environment/news/fashion-can-do-better.  

3rd Annual Virtual Scholarship & College Resource Fair

Sandy Lopez, NIU Coordinator for Undocumented Student Support, will be presenting about resources and support for undocumented students at NIU on October 6^th. If you have any questions, about this program, please contact Sandy Lopez at slopez1@niu.edu.

On behalf of the Network for Undocumented Scholarship Access (NUSA), we would like to invite you to participate in the following event:

3rd Annual Virtual Scholarship & College Resource Fair
October 6 – 8, 2020
6:00-7:30pm (all workshops start at 6pm)

Our 3-day virtual event is as follows:

 

Day 1: Scholarship & College Fair

Tuesday, October 6 – 6:00pm -7:30pm

Visit: bit.ly/2Z6qjdj

 

Day 2: FAFSA / Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (RISE Act)

Wednesday, October 7 - 6:00pm -7:30pm

Visit English Session: bit.ly/3jX0pkk

Visit Spanish Session: bit.ly/3lNdTke

 

Day 3: Taller sobre Recursos Universitarios para Padres

Thursday, October 8 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm

RSVP (Bilingual): bit.ly/32VUIvT

 

Day 3: Do’s & Don’ts: Creating a Competitive Scholarship Application

Thursday, October 8 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm

RSVP: bit.ly/3h0BxWE

 

Knowledge is Power Session Follow-up

Knowledge is Power Resources

 

History of Protest

Joseph, P. E. (2020, June 12). How will the protests end? History tells us much depends on how government responds. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/how-will-protests-end-history-says-depends-government-response/

The history of protest in America (History Lens)
Davidann, J.(2020,  June 2) The history of protest in America (History Lens). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8umUFjgVk

Looking back on the protests that have shaken America https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2020/jun/05/looking-back-on-the-protests-that-have-shaken-america

History of Racism

Emling, D. C. (2019). Institutional Racism and Restorative Justice: Oppression and Privilege in America. Routledge.

Bonam, C. M., Nair Das, V., Coleman, B. R., & Salter, P. (2019). Ignoring history, denying racism: Mounting evidence for the Marley hypothesis and epistemologies of ignorance. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550617751583

50 years of racism -- why silence isn’t the answer James A. White Sr TEDxTalks. (2014, November 26). 50 years of racism -- why silence isn’t the answer. [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9DDE7NV1Nw 

White Privilege

Halley, J., Eshleman, A., & Vijaya, R. M. (2011). Seeing white: An introduction to white privilege and race. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Edwards, J. F. (2017). Color-blind racial attitudes: Microaggressions in the context of racism and White privilege. Administrative Issues Journal, 7(1), 2. Retrieved from: https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1261&context=aij

Code Switch: Hosted by journalists of color. (2016 – Present). Code Switch. [Audio Podcast]. National Public Radiohttps://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV

Community Cultural Wealth and CRT

Critical Race Theory, Community Cultural Wealth, and Funds of Knowledge 
Giraldo, L. (2017, November 6). Critical Race Theory, Community Cultural Wealth, and Funds of Knowledge [Video]. YouTube. 

Invite - LEED Training Special - Illinois - Summer Online Webinars

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training

Due to the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus, this has been transitioned from all in-person workshops to scheduled live webinars, or you can take the on-demand self-paced online workshop any time accessible for an entire year. Starting this week, the exam can now be taken online too!

Webinar and Online self-paced options:

There will be live webinars offered that can be streamed on any of the following dates:

1.      June 6 2020 – 2:00PM – 6:00PM EDT

2.      June 25 2020 – 5:00PM – 9:00PM EDT

3.      July 11 2020 – 1:00PM – 5:00PM EDT

4.      July 29 2020 – 5:00PM – 9:00PM EDT

5.      August 23 2020 – 1:00PM – 5:00PM EDT   -   OR   -

6.      September 12 2020 – 2:00PM – 6:00PM EDT

The above options are identical to the in-person workshops. 

You can register here for a webinar - https://leadinggreen.com/webinars

Online – Start today - Self-paced recorded workshop

Or take the on-demand recorded course completed at your own pace here - https://leadinggreen.com/online

Take advantage of your summer to make your resume stand out with the LEED Green Associate, the only professional designation to show employers and clients you have certified knowledge in the field. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is simply a sustainability scorecard for green buildings. Buildings can become LEED Certified as can people!

To date, this course and its materials have proven to be instrumental in helping over 9000 students pass their respective exam at a 99% pass rate. This course is offered at a quarter of the price and time as the competition and allows students to graduate with letters after their name!

This course is instructed by a USGBC Faculty member and is the most effective way to pass. The USGBC charges a $100 (reduced for students) fee for the actual exam which can now be taken online from home. Save money by reserving your spot today and make a positive difference in your career! 

Cost: $200

Students can use the coupon code ‘green’ for $50 off (Discounted course price $150)

To register for a live webinar please visit: https://leadinggreen.com/webinars

Or online on-demand here -  https://leadinggreen.com/online

Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at info@leadinggreen.com