‘Vigil’ by acclaimed author George Saunders kicks off the new Campus Reading Program
May 13, 2026
This month, enjoy the summer weather with Lunch by the Lake and Sunset Sounds, meet a new colleague and cheer on the ’Cats. Here’s what to put on your calendar.
At the keyboard
See the prowess of students in this summer’s Duo Piano Master Classes during their free final recitals.
Recitals are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, in Galvin Recital Hall, Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. More info.
‘AI for Good’
Join the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence for an installment of its summer speaker series. Meta’s Madeline Hinkamp will discuss how researchers are using freely available AI to solve problems that matter. The Northwestern alumna’s talk will highlight how open-source AI models and public data products are being put to work across environmental science, public health, scientific discovery and emergency response.
Hinkamp’s talk is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, in the Devereaux Foundation Room, Deering Library, 1937 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Register here to attend in person or virtually.
Lunch with a view
Enjoy a meal with live music and a view with the return of Lunch on the Lake. Bring your own lunch or purchase one on site.
Live performances start at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Kahn Pavilion on Cohen Lawn, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston. RSVP here.
Eye to the sky
Tour Northwestern’s historic Dearborn Observatory and look through its telescope during its weekly public viewing hours. The first hour is by reservation only, but the second is open to walk-ins.
Public viewing hours begin each Friday at 9 p.m. at Dearborn Observatory, 2131 Tech Drive, Evanston. Sign up for the reserved tour waitlist or walk in starting at 10 p.m. More info.
Coffee and colleagues
Staff are invited to take a coffee break, connect with new colleagues and learn about the Office of the Ombudsperson at NU Bridges, a quarterly event sponsored by Human Resources.
The event runs from 10–11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in room 1400, Abbott Hall, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Register here.
A lakeside concert
Enjoy an evening of live music by the lake at Sunset Sounds at Kahn Pavilion. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Refreshments will be available for purchase at Luna’s Pub and Grill.
Events begin at 7:30 p.m., with performances beginning at 8 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 20, at Kahn Pavilion on Cohen Lawn, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston. RSVP here.
Seeing double
See a Wildcats soccer doubleheader as men’s soccer opens its regular season against New Haven, and women’s soccer plays its first home game of 2026 against Syracuse.
Men’s soccer plays at 4 p.m., and women’s soccer plays at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, 2235 Campus Drive, Evanston. Matches are free to attend.
Teaching in the age of AI
Instructors are invited to a conversation about how to navigate the growing presence of generative AI in their teaching contexts at a session sponsored by the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and the Office of the Provost. Participants will take away practical strategies for both small and large classes, including ways to structure assessments that make student thinking visible.
The event is at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, in the Louis Room, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston. Register here.
Return of the champions
Cheer on field hockey as it begins its 2026 season on home turf. The back-to-back national champions will face Virginia Commonwealth University.
The ’Cats play on Friday, Aug. 28, at Lakeside Field, 2311 N. Campus Drive, Evanston. Game time will be announced at a later date. Admission to all regular season home games is free.
