Attend Grandparents University®

Learn the art and science of bird banding. We’ll teach you about the equipment, literature, and legal guidelines related to this unique activity that people use to study bird migration, longevity, and populations. We will set up mist nets and attempt to capture, record, band, and release local songbirds. You may have the opportunity to handle and release banded birds.

Activity Level: Moderate

Your brain helps define you and shape your personality, speech, and actions. What’s even more fascinating is that it develops and evolves with you. During this class, we will explore how your brain changes as you grow and look at its various strengths during different developmental stages. After the presentation, we will play a quiz game (Kahoot!) to see who remembers the most information. We’ll wrap up with a coloring and discussion activity in which you identify parts of the brain that help you most—and find out how your strengths can benefit others.

Activity Level: Low

We humans keep learning, even after we’re done with school. We learn new things through our jobs, hobbies, and other experiences. However, most students aren’t taught how to learn effectively. This short course will change that by showing you how memory works and presenting a handful of science-based practices to improve your learning and recall. By the end of class, you will understand why a little forgetfulness is good, re-reading is a poor learning strategy, and testing yourself helps build stronger memories.

Activity Level: Low

Experience the virtual world through this hands-on session, which will teach you how to interact with computer-generated simulation environments using special electronic equipment. You will have the chance to try on virtual reality headsets and choose from a variety of different experiences within the digital realm. Experienced professionals will lead this immersive session, providing expert guidance and answering any of your questions.

Activity Level: Moderate

Learn about the legacy of renowned author Beatrix Potter. She shaped children’s literature and also worked as a landscape and natural history artist, diarist, farmer, and conservationist. We will explore the history behind The Tale of Peter Rabbit and examine its role in popular culture and children’s literature. We also will show you several rare copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit from the University of Iowa Special Collections and Archives and the instructor’s personal collection. These versions include a 1901 privately printed copy as well as modern-day books and merchandise that have accompanied recent films based on the story.

Activity Level: Low

Take a walk through history and learn about a national historic landmark that was Iowa’s first state capitol, from 1846-1857, and also the University of Iowa’s founding building. Get a behind-the-scenes look at a place that has hosted state legislatures and countless university events—and also has withstood multiple additions and renovations, including a major fire in 2001. We will give you a gallery guide to enhance your tour and play a game that will help you learn and have fun while exploring the museum’s treasures.

Activity Level: Moderate

Take a 500-million-year journey through Iowa’s geological, cultural, and ecological past, on an adventure that will feature Rusty the Giant Sloth and so much more. You will get an in-depth look at our museum exhibits and collections as well as a gallery guide to enhance this informative and engaging experience. In addition, we will play an interactive game as we explore all the museum’s hidden gems.

Activity Level: Moderate

Learn about the John Martin Rare Book Room in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. This space includes nearly 6,500 volumes of original works—representing classic contributions to the health sciences—from the 15th through 21st centuries. We will incorporate some of these special books into our classroom activities, and we also will highlight some key moments in the history of medicine.

Activity Level: Low

Put on your surgical gear and join our rally race to earn points for your team! During this hands-on learning experience, you will don personal protective equipment and enter our operating room in teams. Each team will draw an ailment card and choose a teammate to complete the medical procedure without buzzing out. The first team to finish will receive points based on the procedure’s difficulty level. We will include 12 ailments in the game, and participants will take turns at completing all of them. The first team to do so will be our highest-scoring winner.

Activity Level: Moderate

Lifelong health is rooted in daily routines. Explore how our Nursing Education Center trains nurses to treat sick patients—and also promotes wellness. Learn why good health habits start with mindful and informed practices, including hygiene, hydration, eating, playing, moving, sleeping, monitoring mood and vitals, and nursing yourself and others through an illness or bad day.

Activity Level: Moderate

Discover the hidden world of bacteria during this interactive session. You will work together to build and destroy microbes, view your own bacteria through microscopes, compete in fun trivia and lab Olympics games, and use critical thinking to find a way out of an infectious-disease escape room.

Activity Level: Moderate

Have you ever wondered how doctors use ultrasound to diagnose and treat patients in emergency situations? Do you want to learn how to use this amazing technology? Join our emergency medicine ultrasound team in exploring the science of ultrasound and the human body. We will work in hands-on stations, and host a cooperative scavenger hunt, to help diagnose the emergency.

Activity Level: Moderate

Learn the art and science of bird banding. We’ll teach you about the equipment, literature, and legal guidelines related to this unique activity that people use to study bird migration, longevity, and populations. We will set up mist nets and attempt to capture, record, band, and release local songbirds. You may have the opportunity to handle and release banded birds.

Activity Level: Moderate

Your brain helps define you and shape your personality, speech, and actions. What’s even more fascinating is that it develops and evolves with you. During this class, we will explore how your brain changes as you grow and look at its various strengths during different developmental stages. After the presentation, we will play a quiz game (Kahoot!) to see who remembers the most information. We’ll wrap up with a coloring and discussion activity in which you identify parts of the brain that help you most—and find out how your strengths can benefit others.

Activity Level: Low

We humans keep learning, even after we’re done with school. We learn new things through our jobs, hobbies, and other experiences. However, most students aren’t taught how to learn effectively. This short course will change that by showing you how memory works and presenting a handful of science-based practices to improve your learning and recall. By the end of class, you will understand why a little forgetfulness is good, re-reading is a poor learning strategy, and testing yourself helps build stronger memories.

Activity Level: Low

Learn about the legacy of renowned author Beatrix Potter. She shaped children’s literature and also worked as a landscape and natural history artist, diarist, farmer, and conservationist. We will explore the history behind The Tale of Peter Rabbit and examine its role in popular culture and children’s literature. We also will show you several rare copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit from the University of Iowa Special Collections and Archives and the instructor’s personal collection. These versions include a 1901 privately printed copy as well as modern-day books and merchandise that have accompanied recent films based on the story.

Activity Level: Low

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives, and generative AI is a technology that allows people to produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio, and synthetic data. Take a dive into this fascinating field and learn what it is, where it comes from, and how to use it. We will spend most of our time exploring generative AI’s many possibilities.

Activity Level: Moderate

Take a walk through history and learn about a national historic landmark that was Iowa’s first state capitol, from 1846-1857, and also the University of Iowa’s founding building. Get a behind-the-scenes look at a place that has hosted state legislatures and countless university events—and also has withstood multiple additions and renovations, including a major fire in 2001. We will give you a gallery guide to enhance your tour and play a game that will help you learn and have fun while exploring the museum’s treasures.

Activity Level: Moderate

Take a 500-million-year journey through Iowa’s geological, cultural, and ecological past, on an adventure that will feature Rusty the Giant Sloth and so much more. You will get an in-depth look at our museum exhibits and collections as well as a gallery guide to enhance this informative and engaging experience. In addition, we will play an interactive game as we explore all the museum’s hidden gems.

Activity Level: Moderate

Learn about the John Martin Rare Book Room in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. This space includes nearly 6,500 volumes of original works—representing classic contributions to the health sciences—from the 15th through 21st centuries. We will incorporate some of these special books into our classroom activities, and we also will highlight some key moments in the history of medicine.

Activity Level: Low

Put on your surgical gear and join our rally race to earn points for your team! During this hands-on learning experience, you will don personal protective equipment and enter our operating room in teams. Each team will draw an ailment card and choose a teammate to complete the medical procedure without buzzing out. The first team to finish will receive points based on the procedure’s difficulty level. We will include 12 ailments in the game, and participants will take turns at completing all of them. The first team to do so will be our highest-scoring winner.

Activity Level: Moderate

Lifelong health is rooted in daily routines. Explore how our Nursing Education Center trains nurses to treat sick patients—and also promotes wellness. Learn why good health habits start with mindful and informed practices, including hygiene, hydration, eating, playing, moving, sleeping, monitoring mood and vitals, and nursing yourself and others through an illness or bad day.

Activity Level: Moderate

Discover the hidden world of bacteria during this interactive session. You will work together to build and destroy microbes, view your own bacteria through microscopes, compete in fun trivia and lab Olympics games, and use critical thinking to find a way out of an infectious-disease escape room.

Activity Level: Moderate

Have you ever wondered how doctors use ultrasound to diagnose and treat patients in emergency situations? Do you want to learn how to use this amazing technology? Join our emergency medicine ultrasound team in exploring the science of ultrasound and the human body. We will work in hands-on stations, and host a cooperative scavenger hunt, to help diagnose the emergency.

Activity Level: Moderate

Get a firsthand look at water-resources engineering through hands-on activities that will include a small-group challenge. Our Iowa Flood Center staff will describe our state’s flood challenges using interactive visuals and a tabletop watershed model that shows how land use affects flooding. They also will share information about how we can reduce flood risks through nature-based solutions.

Activity Level: Low

Explore the basic concepts of flyfishing, including how it differs from regular fishing, and learn about the equipment, strategy, and ethics surrounding this activity. You’ll have the chance to do everything from tying knots and identifying flies to practicing fly casting in a pond.

Activity Level: High

Join us at historic Kinnick Stadium to learn the ancient art and sport of falconry. We’ll cover the basics of falconry, falconry equipment, training techniques, and the hawks we train for flights. At the end of the course, you will be familiar with various raptor species and understand basic training techniques. Our participants’ interests and questions will shape the discussions in this interactive class.

Activity Level: Moderate

BizInnovator Startup will take you for an entrepreneurial spin! You won’t have time to sit back and relax, but you will have fun while getting firsthand experience in innovating and problem solving like a boss. Participate in this fast-paced, hands-on workshop, where you will team up to solve problems, develop entrepreneurial solutions, make a pitch, and get feedback from potential customers. Teams will participate in the Innovation Expo, listen to pitches, and give feedback.

Activity Level: Low

Team up on using audio software such as Logic Pro or GarageBand to produce a unique musical piece. You will work in tandem on activities that include browsing musical loops, playing MIDI instruments, and making creative decisions that will lead to a special musical track you can enjoy for years to come!

Activity Level: Low

Learn how dementia affects people’s lives and explore practical ways to support those living with the condition. Participate in activities that include sharing a children’s book, discussing challenges for people with dementia, and finding ways for those individuals to remain healthy and active in the community. We also will incorporate tai chi, which can help with arthritis and fall prevention.

Activity Level: Moderate

What’s unique about your family—and what stories do you share? Visit the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art for a tour with Director Lauren Lessing that will focus on family, community, and belonging. After the tour, you’ll have the chance to create your own work of art showing your family history. You will have the option to imprint and paint a thin copper plate or to design a mask.

Activity Level: Moderate

Did you know there are more than 8,000 trees on Iowa’s campus? But how do you know if that tree in front of Macbride Hall is an oak, a walnut, or something else entirely? Discover how to identify the trees around you—and how your brain helps you recognize trees (and other objects). You also will use a dichotomous key to recognize different species before heading outside to practice your identification skills and learn about important trees on campus.

Activity Level: High

How can I go as fast as possible down a slide? What if a swing were as tall as a skyscraper? Is it better to cover a playground with squishy sand or bouncy rubber? Playgrounds are fun places for kids and grown-ups alike, and together, we will explore their science and engineering. During this class, you will investigate issues and craft solutions while exploring how to design slides, swings, and playground surfaces that are both exciting and safe.

Activity Level: Low