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Supporting activities & events that further our mission

The Obermann Center welcomes the opportunity to support activities and events that further our mission—promoting research and creative work, facilitating publicly engaged art and scholarship, and building intellectual community. University of Iowa faculty members may request small, discretionary grants (up to $400) to fund opportunities such as visiting speakers and conferences. See application link at the bottom left of this page.

Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Please note:

  1. The requesting party is expected to administer the funding and the event. The Obermann Center cannot assume organizational responsibilities in connection with co-sponsored events.
  2. Co-sponsorship requests should be submitted at least one month in advance of the event.
  3. We ordinarily limit co-sponsorship awards to two events per department per fiscal year. 
  4. The Obermann Center will not release funding for approved co-sponsorships until 1) the event is posted on the UI Events Calendar, with the Obermann Center tagged as a unit, and 2) the requesting party has submitted Obermann's Co-Sponsorship Report

View past co-sponsored activities and events on our website archive

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Apply

We're delighted that you're interested in partnering with us! Please submit our co-sponsorship webform, and we'll get back to you shortly. Please note that:

  1. The requesting party is expected to administer the funding and the event. The Obermann Center cannot assume organizational responsibilities in connection with co-sponsored events.
  2. Co-sponsorship requests should be submitted at least one month in advance of the event.
  3. We ordinarily limit co-sponsorship awards to two events per department per fiscal year. 
  4. The Obermann Center will not release funding for approved co-sponsorships until 1) the event is posted on the UI Events Calendar, with the Obermann Center tagged as a unit, and 2) the requesting party has submitted Obermann's Co-Sponsorship Report
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Resources

The Obermann Center's guide to publicizing events—a handy checklist for UI faculty, staff, and graduate students (PDF)

Accessible & Inclusive Events Resource Guide (courtesy of the University of Michigan)

Obermann Co-Sponsorship Report Form — All recipients of Obermann co-sponsorship funding must complete this webform after the event/activity.

 

Upcoming

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Discussion of Contraception and American Religion

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Jefferson Building
Join the University of Iowa (UI) Jewish Studies Network, an International Programs affinity group, as they host Samira K. Mehta for a discussion on contraception and American religion.
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“The Unfinished Symphony”: Graduate and Professional Student Research and Connection Lab 

Friday, March 28, 2025 10:30am to 2:30pm
University Capitol Centre
Graduate and professional students in the early stages of their research can share their work and make connections with people outside their discipline at this informal symposium.
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Beyond a Chilling Effect: Direct Action for Academic Freedom

Thursday, April 3, 2025 4:00pm
Jefferson Building
a Faculty First Responders Workshop sponsored by POROI, Iowa’s Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry At a time when academics are finding their work hyper-surveilled, banned from funding, or even scrubbed by AI, how can we vibrantly sustain our research, writing, and creative practice? In this Faculty First Responders workshop, participants will learn concrete steps to support freedom of inquiry for themselves and others. Topics include digital security measures, reducing risk of extremist attacks...
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The Swine Republic: A reading by Chris Jones at Prairie Lights Bookstore

Thursday, April 3, 2025 7:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
Come to Prairie Lights Books for a special Darwin Day reading by Chris Jones, author of "The Swine Republic." Published in 2023 by local publisher Ice Cube Press and named a 2024 "Great Reads from Great Places" book by the Library of Congress, The Swine Republic provides extensive research and reportage on the truth behind Iowa's infamously poor water quality.
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Webinar: Exploring Anne Frank & Difficult Life Stories

Friday, April 4, 2025 10:00am to 12:00pm
Virtual
Discover how Anne Frank’s story continues to shape conversations on empathy, education, and human rights in a compelling webinar featuring scholars from across the U.S.
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