Here are five big stories Nebraska students, faculty and staff should be aware of for the week of Jan. 21.

State of the U Address

Chancellor Ronnie Green outlined goals for 2025 and beyond in his State of the University address on Jan. 15. More than 1,250 watched the address either in person or via a livestream online. Click here to watch the speech and read more about Green’s goals and reactions from students, faculty, staff and stakeholders.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Chancellor Ronnie Green delivered the State of the University address on Jan. 15. In the talk, Green outlined university goals for 2025 and beyond.

Berens to deliver Nebraska Lecture

Charlyne Berens

An expanded slate of Nebraska Lectures opens Jan. 23 with Charlyne Berens, professor emeritus and former associate dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, discussing the state unicameral. The talk, which is free and open to the public, starts at 3:30 p.m. in the Wick Alumni Center. Regularly offered twice a year and featuring faculty, the Nebraska Lectures: Chancellor’s Distinguished Speaker Series, has expanded in celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary. The 2019 schedule features 12 talks, one each month, exploring the history of Dear Old Nebraska U. Learn more about the lecture series.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

The Nebraska Lectures will expand to a year-long series in celebration of the university's 150th anniversary in 2019. The first lecture, on Jan. 23, will examine the history of the Nebraska Unicameral. Pictured is the charter that officially created the university on Feb. 15, 1869.

MLK Week

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will celebrate the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events from Jan. 21-25. A complete schedule is available online. Featured events include lectures by Jasmine Kingsley, legal and general counsel for Hudl, and Christine Darden, a retired aerospace engineer, mathematician and NASA employee featured in the “Hidden Figures” book. Learn more about MLK Week activities at Nebraska.

Shutterstock

Antarctic discovery

Nebraska’s David Harwood, professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, discovered microscopic animal remains in samples taken from a lake located 1,200 meters below Antarctica’s Whillans Ice Plain. The lake is nearly twice the size of Manhattan and has been cut off from the ocean and atmosphere for millennia. The find was made through Harwood’s work as a principal investigator on the National Science Foundation-funded Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access, or SALSA, project. Harwood’s discovery was featured online in Nature on Jan. 18. Learn more about the discovery.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Nebraska’s David Harwood answers a question from Jackson Belva during a Geology 125 course. Harwood served as a principal investigator in the National Science Foundation-funded SALSA project.

Civic Challenge launched

In commemoration of the university’s 150th year celebration, the Center for Civic Engagement has launched the Husker Civic Challenge. The project is encouraging students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university to record more than 1.5 million hours of community service in 2019. The challenge began Jan. 1 and formally kicked off with the Husker Civic Challenge Service Fair on Jan. 16. Learn more about the project and how to get involved.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Madison Blum, Beatrice, Nebraska, does face painting at the Campbell Elementary School Carnival during the Big Event. April 7, 2018.