Discover HELI’s Legacy of Environmental Programming
Explore a rich archive of past events hosted by the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative—ranging from in‑person lectures and fireside chats to virtual panels and CLE seminars. Featuring thought leaders in climate law, biodiversity, energy policy, labor and climate, water law, and more, these events highlight the Initiative’s ongoing role in fostering scholarship, public engagement, and professional development across environmental law at Iowa Law and beyond.
Past Events From Most Recent
In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and journalist Elizabeth Kolbert
HELI hosted an conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and journalist Elizabeth Kolbert on April 11, 2026, to discuss her new book, Life on a Little Known Planet, a collection of urgent, thought-provoking essays exploring the climate crisis and the natural world.
Who Defends the Defenders? Exploring Sovereignty, Legitimacy, Human Rights, and Activism in Land and Environmental Protection
In this panel, on April 10th, 2026, Dakota elder and historian Tim Mentz Sr., the first certified Tribal Historic Preservation Officer in the United States, shared stories and conversation with renowned Liberian environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer Alfred Brownell, a 2019 recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize.
The Current State of Climate Regulation: Revisiting the Endangerment Finding
On Friday, March 27th, 2026, panelists discussed the Endangerment Finding, how the EPA can revisit it in the future and the scientific response to the EPA's proposal to reconsider the piece of legislation.
The Private Sector and the Planet: Environmental Governance Across Industries Speaker Series
The Private Sector and the Planet: Environmental Governance Across Industries is a year long speaker series (2025-2026 academic year) exploring the critical role of private environmental governance in addressing 21st-century challenges. Co-hosted by HELI, Vanderbilt Law School’s Private Climate Governance Lab, and the Tippie College of Business’ Social Impact Community
Data Centers in Iowa: Perspectives from Community, Government, and Research
This panel brought together experts in local government planning, environmental law and advocacy, and water policy to explore how data center development intersects with zoning and permitting, legal frameworks, community engagement, and natural resource management on March 9th, 2026.
From Statutes to Soil: How Environmental Law and Geoscience Interact in Practice
On February 18th, 2026, Iowa Law alum Michael Dunning and David Cook joined HELI for a candid conversation on real-world collaboration at the intersection of law, science, and redevelopment - from hazardous waste cleanup to major urban projects.
Student Stories: Reflections on Summer Environmental Law Internships
The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and the Iowa State Bar Association joined 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 on Dec. 9th, 2025!
From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed
HELI, Iowa Hydroscience and Engineering, Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy, and The Nature Conservancy joined for a dynamic panel discussion tracing the flow of water — and policy — from Iowa’s Driftless Region to the Mississippi Delta on October 30th, 2025.
Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource with Royal C. Gardner
On Oct. 10th, 2025, HELI joined Royal C. Gardner, the Professor of Law, Director of the Stetson Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson Law, to discuss his new book; Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource.
Past Events Alphabetical
A Spotlight On: The Endangered Species Act
On Feb, 27th, 2023, HELI hosted a fireside chat between Dean Kevin Washburn and Kierán Suckling who discussed how the Center for Biological Diversity has become a successful litigant and change-maker for endangered species and critical habitat.
Adapting to a Warming World: Perspectives from the Environmental Law Collaborative
Environmental scholars from around the country joined for a series of talks exploring what it means to adapt to a warming world. This event took place on Friday, April 14, 2023 in the Boyd Law Building (BLB) at the University of Iowa College of Law.
Agricultural Workers and Extreme Heat: OSHA’s Proposed Heat Safety Rule
Occupational safety, labor, and environmental experts discussed the risks of extreme temperatures for outdoor workers in a changing climate and the recently proposed OSHA rule to protect workers from hazardous heat on November 27th, 2024.
Barred Owls, Spotted Owls, and Ethics in Wildlife Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a plan where it would kill up to half a million federally-protected barred owls in the Pacific Northwest over the next thirty years, panelists representing both sides of the docket discussed Thursday, September 25, 2025.
Carbon Pipelines Across Iowa: Panel Discussion
Panelists joined the HELI in a discussion between policy experts, researchers, industry, landowners, and environmental representatives on the proposed carbon capture and storage pipelines across the state of Iowa, on November 7th, 2022.
Careers in Environmental Law Panel
On February 24th, 2024, four local panelists discussed careers and oppurtunities in environmental law
Data Centers in Iowa: Perspectives from Community, Government, and Research
This panel brought together experts in local government planning, environmental law and advocacy, and water policy to explore how data center development intersects with zoning and permitting, legal frameworks, community engagement, and natural resource management on March 9th, 2026.
From Statutes to Soil: How Environmental Law and Geoscience Interact in Practice
On February 18th, 2026, Iowa Law alum Michael Dunning and David Cook joined HELI for a candid conversation on real-world collaboration at the intersection of law, science, and redevelopment - from hazardous waste cleanup to major urban projects.
From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed
HELI, Iowa Hydroscience and Engineering, Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy, and The Nature Conservancy joined for a dynamic panel discussion tracing the flow of water — and policy — from Iowa’s Driftless Region to the Mississippi Delta on October 30th, 2025.