HELI Events and Programming

The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative hosts a wide range of events that bring together legal experts, policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and the public to explore timely environmental law and policy issues. HELI programming includes panel discussions, book talks, faculty presentations, and symposia that foster dialogue on the intersection of law, climate change, and environmental justice. Events are open to all - from students, faculty, professionals, and community members - and often include both in-person and virtual attendance options.

Upcoming HELI Events

 The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative events are here.

For our past events, visit our previous events here.

Upcoming Events

Waters of the United States: A Conversation with Royal C. Gardner and Silvia Secchi promotional image

Waters of the United States: A Conversation with Royal C. Gardner and Silvia Secchi

Thursday, October 9, 2025 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
The history of power struggles between the President, federal agencies, courts, states, and Congress over water quality - and the communities and habitats caught in the middle.
Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource with Royal C. Gardner  promotional image

Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource with Royal C. Gardner

Friday, October 10, 2025 12:45pm to 2:00pm
Boyd Law Building
Waters of the United States is an unprecedented exploration of the history of the 'waters of the United States'—and its importance for today’s efforts to conserve a critical natural resource.
Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report promotional image

Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Big Grove Brewery Iowa City
Join for a public presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA) report.
From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed  promotional image

From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed

Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Boyd Law Building
Join us for a timely panel discussion exploring how states, communities, and advocates are responding to the regulatory and environmental uncertainties left in the wake of the Sackett v. EPA decision. With a focus on wetlands and water protections across the Mississippi River watershed—from the bluffs of the Driftless Region to the bayous of the Delta—this conversation brings together regional experts to highlight innovative legal, policy, and collaborative approaches for safeguarding critical...
 Student Stories: Reflections on Summer Environmental Law Internships  promotional image

Student Stories: Reflections on Summer Environmental Law Internships

Thursday, November 20, 2025 12:45pm to 1:15pm
Boyd Law Building
Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and the Iowa State Bar Association for a dynamic session spotlighting Iowa Law students who spent their summer immersed in environmental law and policy work across the state, region, country, and world! Through 3–5 minute lightning talks, these future environmental leaders will share insights from their internships—from litigation and advocacy to research and regulatory practice. This session highlights the real-world impact of HELI’s experiential...
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A Recap of 2024-2025 Events

During the 2024–2025 academic year, HELI hosted a dynamic lineup of events focused on climate governance, industrial agriculture, environmental litigation, and climate science. Highlights included the Economic Implications of Climate Change Symposium, a conversation with author Corban Addison on Wastelands, a panel on climate change and insurance with New York Times climate reporter Christopher Flavelle, a book talk with Austin Frerick on Barons, and a keynote lecture by environmental law scholar Richard Lazarus. These events reflected HELI’s commitment to elevating critical environmental issues and creating space for diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary engagement.

Some highlights of our events are here. 

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Attendees at HELI's events

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Different event co-sponsors

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Panelists led HELI events

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What kinds of events does HELI organize and support?

The HELI team hosts various kinds of events during the academic year. Those events generally fall into the following categories:

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Hubbell Lecture Series

Leading voices from academia, government, environmental groups, and industry. Some lecturers are co-sponsored by other schools and programs at the University of Iowa or the larger community. The lecture series provides Iowa Law students the community the opportunity to learn from leaders of the environmental movement in the United States, builds relationships between the Law School and the environmental community, and contributes to debate about the environmental challenges facing our nation and the world. Students have the opportunity  to meet privately with speakers during their visits to Iowa Law. All lectures are free and open to the public.

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Careers in Environmental Law Speaker Series

HELI offers an event series focusing on careers in the large umbrella of environmental law. This event series includes public service and public interest attorneys, as well as attorneys in private practice and within larger firms and corporations. The practice areas encompass areas of environmental law, such as energy and sustainability programs, as well as more traditional compliance counseling and enforcement practices. Most speakers in this series are Iowa Law alums.

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Panel Discussions and Special Events

HELI routinely sponsors panel discussions and special events throughout the year on current issues in environmental law with a particular emphasis on issues affecting the state of Iowa and the midwest region. The panel discussions are moderated by members of Iowa's distinguished and extensive environmental and sustainability faculty, staff and researchers. The discussions include presentations by academics, practitioners, and policy makers. Many of the events and panels are presented in conjunction with classroom discussions.

News about past events

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HELI welcomes New York Times reporter, authors, and scholars to Iowa Law this Spring

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
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HELI Announces Fall 2023 Event Schedule

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Events and programming made possible by the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI) engage the College of Law with some of today’s most pressing environmental law issues. Events this fall feature discussions on land use in the Midwest, biodiversity, wildfire management, prescribed burns, and water in the Western United States.