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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

The Farm Bill is often viewed as agricultural legislation, but it is also one of the nation's most consequential natural resource laws. Through conservation programs, crop insurance, commodity supports, research investments, and incentives for climate-smart practices, the Farm Bill influences how millions of acres of land are managed and, in turn, affects water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience.

As interest in nuclear energy grows across the United States, Iowa has become part of the national conversation with the proposed restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Cedar Rapids. A year after the restart announcement, this timely discussion brings together leaders from the surrounding community, industry, government, environmental advocacy, and the scientific community to think through the legal, scientific, economic, and community issues raised by the proposed Duane Arnold restart. The panel will explore how policymakers, regulators, researchers, and the local communities evaluate the opportunities, challenges, and tradeoffs associated with the restart and nuclear energy more broadly and how the community and other stakeholders can engage in the Duane Arnold regulatory process.