Dark matter detector picks up a mysterious signal
September 1, 2026
This week, in addition to fun, learning and football during Family Weekend, enjoy scintillating discussions, a concert in Alice Millar Chapel and more. Here’s what to put on your calendar.
Fun at the field
Northwestern students, faculty and staff are invited to atttend an open house at New Ryan Field. Enjoy food, connect with the Evanston community and get a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium.
The open house is from 5:30–8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St., Evanston. Get tickets here.
Presenting science in style
The American Association for the Advancement of Science presents the 2026 Kavli Science Journalism Award Lecture on using multimedia to make science entertaining and accessible.
The lecture takes place from 6–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the McCormick Foundation Center forum, 1870 Campus Drive, Evanston. Learn more here.
A night with the opera
Gen Z scholars and artists from Northwestern's Black Arts Consortium discuss the opera “Omar” ahead of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of the work. The panel will look at Omar Ibn Said’s 1831 manuscript — the only known surviving Arabic autobiography written by an enslaved individual in the U.S. — and how the opera brings together different musical traditions.
The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the discussion at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Wirtz Center Chicago’s black box theater, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Reserve tickets here.
Have the fam meet the faculty
Northwestern faculty showcase their teaching expertise during hourlong lectures on exciting topics for those visiting during Family Weekend. Choose from subjects including what journalism can teach students in the age of AI and what a robot can do with just one motor. Seats are first come, first served.
The first section of lectures begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, at Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston. See the full lecture list and find more Family Weekend fun here.
’Cats vs. the Scarlet Knights
The Northwestern Wildcats host Rutgers for some Family Weekend football.
Kickoff is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St., Evanston. Get tickets here.
In harmony
The Millar Choir presents two outstanding works for voices and strings from the early German Baroque.
The concert is at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, in Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Register here.
Authenticity and AI
Learn how to keep student writing authentic in the age of generative AI at this hands-on workshop. Bring a current writing assignment or prompt and leave with strategies and a revised, AI-resilient assignment.
The workshop is from 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, in the Ver Steeg Faculty Lounge, University Library, 1970 Campus Drive, Evanston. Register here.
Local news, globally
Take part in a discussion about local news around the world with World Press Institute fellows — leading journalists, anchors and news producers from around the globe — in a roundtable conversation hosted by the Medill Local News Initiative and the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
The event begins at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Knight Lab, Fisk Hall, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston.
