The fall semester is fully underway at Emory, which means there are plenty of events across both the university’s campuses to explore. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the music of a world-renowned violinist, engage in a conversation about Native American representation, learn more about the history of protecting the Chattahoochee River or dive deeper into the Michael C. Carlos Museum, make time to enjoy the variety of activities this month.
1. See how a group of Atlantans have banded together to defend the Chattahoochee River.
Oxford assistant professor Sarah Higinbotham is hosting a screening of the documentary film “Saving the Chattahoochee” on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. in Humanities Hall, Room 202, on the Oxford College campus. The film dives into the life of Sally Bethea, a fierce advocate for the Chattahoochee River who is one of the first women riverkeepers in the U.S. Focusing on how Bethea stepped up to protect the river as the city around it quickly developed, the film also details her partnership with former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin and how the pair changed the course of the river’s future.
This event is free and open to the Emory community.
2. Enjoy music on the Atlanta and Oxford campuses.
There are plenty of opportunities this month to immerse yourself in music and arts. On the Atlanta campus, the opening concert for the Cooke Noontime Series will begin at noon on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts featuring the Vega Quartet, pianist William Ransom, cellist Charae Kruger, violist Yinzi Kong and violinist Amy Moretti.
On Saturday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m., cellist Roee Harran will perform an assortment of Bach suites solo at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. William Ransom, founder and artistic director of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta, will celebrate his 40th year at Emory by performing a variety of solo pieces on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. in Emerson Concert Hall at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. These events are free to attend and open to the public.
If you’re looking for a different kind of artistic performance, members of the Dance and Movement Studies Program faculty at Emory will perform “return//devuelta a los ancestros” featuring choreography by Julio Medina on Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 pm. Also on Sept. 20, world-renowned violinist Sarah Chang and pianist Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome are performing as part of the Candler Concert Series at 8 p.m. in Emerson Concert Hall at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Tickets for these performances are available for purchase on the Schwartz Center website, and Emory students are eligible for a discount.
The Oxford College campus features plenty of musical and artistic events in September as well. Head to the Greer Forum on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. for “An Evening of Music with Peter and Brendan Mayer.” The event is free, but advance reservations are required. Then, on Thursday, Sept. 26, Duo Cantanza will perform in Oxford Chapel at 7 p.m. The pair will share songs from their most recent project featuring Western European music. This performance is free and open to the public.
3. Visit the Michael C. Carlos Museum for new experiences.
The Carlos Museum is launching a monthly event called Relaxed Mornings. Make plans to visit the museum on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. for a sensory-friendly, more relaxed experience. Bags featuring an assortment of items including fidget toys, noise-cancelling headphones and QR codes for helpful information will be available at the information desk on level one to help visitors better enjoy the galleries.
Relaxed Morning visits are open to the public, and ticket purchases are required.
Dive deeper into the Carlos Museum’s new exhibition “Picture Worlds: Greek, Maya, and Moche Pottery,” which opens Saturday, Sept. 14, with a conversation featuring exhibit curators on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. in Ackerman Hall.
“Curatorial Conversation: Picture Worlds” features co-curators Megan E. O’Neil and David Saunders in discussion about the complex narratives displayed in paint on the terracotta vessels produced by the ancient Greeks in the Mediterranean, the Maya in Central America and the Moche of northern Peru. O’Neil is an associate professor of art history at Emory and Saunders is associate curator at the J. Paul Getty Musuem in California. This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Opening on Monday, Sept. 19, the new exhibition “Come Ruin or Rapture” features work from La Vaughn Belle’s “Storm” series in which she utilized previous works that were damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. In the spirit of the exhibit, the Carlos Museum invites students to create a collage button with recycled materials to make a wearable statement during “Student Studio: Stuck on You” on Friday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. in the Tate Room.
The materials Student Studio are first come, first served. No registration is required.
4. Learn more about artificial intelligence.
Many fields are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their work. See the advances of the field through a variety of events at Emory. First, attend “Data and AI Day: Accelerating Impact through Collaborative Innovation” on Tuesday, Sept. 10, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Starvine Ballroom at the Emory Conference Center. The event explores the cutting-edge world of generative AI and analytics, including the latest advancements in AI and analytics at Emory, how the community leverages AI and even brainstorming AI-centered solutions to major challenges. Registration is required, and attendees can attend virtually or in person.
The next day, join the Center for AI Learning for its first AI.DIVE (Discoveries, Innovations and Ventures at Emory) Research Showcase Symposium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. in the Robert W. Woodruff Library. At the symposium, attendees can listen to research, engage in panel discussions and view student projects related to artificial intelligence. The event will conclude with a networking reception. Advance registration is required.
5. Stock your pantry with baked goods, grab lunch and more.
The Emory Farmers Market is back on campus weekly this fall. Head to McDonough Plaza on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 17 and 24 at 11 a.m. for in-season produce from the Oxford Organic Farm, fresh baked biscotti from Legacy Bakers, hot lunch from Sweet, Sweet Syria, coffee from Shipped Coffee Co. and more.
6. Hear from the experts about how climate change impacts extreme weather events.
Extreme weather affects everyone. But a group in Atlanta is working to bring awareness of the implications of the increase in frequency and intensity of these extreme events, especially how the most vulnerable communities are impacted.
Join the discussion “Human Impacts of Disaster: Understanding the Climate and Resilience Nexus” on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 4:30 p.m. at Science Gallery Atlanta, located at 4800 Briarcliff Road NE. Expert panelists will discuss how Georgia is preparing for the impacts of climate change, the state’s road to climate resilience and connections between climate action and public health. Registration is required for this free event.
7. Join an invigorating discussion at Oxford College.
On Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. in Humanities Hall, Room 202, join Pablo Ortemberg, researcher at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, for “Between History and Anthropology: Approaching Cultural Issues in Latin America’s Past and Present,” a discussion focused on Ortemberg’s three decades of ethnographic and methodological experiences of historical research in Argentina, Peru, Brazil and France. This lecture, hosted by Pablo Palomino, associate professor of Latin American and Caribbean studies, will be delivered in Spanish with an intended audience of advanced and native Spanish speakers.
Don’t miss the second stimulating discussion on Friday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Humanities Hall, Room 202. “The Human-Animal Connection: Why We Need Each Other” will feature Cecilia Fernández, a special education teacher with more than 30 years of experience working with animals and children in an inclusive setting. Fernández will discuss the interactive conversation about the mutually beneficial connection between people and animals, focusing on the role of Best Friends Farm, an animal rescue/sanctuary that Fernández owns with her family in Oxford, Georgia.
Both events are free to attend and open to the Emory community.
8. Learn about sustainable transportation options at Emory.
Want to explore the areas around Emory without a car? Looking for ways to get to campus? Visit the Sustainable Transportation Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. in McDonough Plaza to learn more about clean transportation methods. Dozens of organizations will be represented at the fair, showcasing information about public transit, bikes, carpools, micro-mobility and more.
Free King of Pops treats will be available for the first 1,000 attendees. This event is free and open to all members of the Emory community.
9. Explore threats to democracy with renowned experts.
Join Carol Anderson, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of African American Studies, and Steven Levitsky, David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and professor of government at Harvard University, for “Why Democracy is in Danger: Steven Levitsky with Carol Anderson” on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. in the Jones Room of the Robert W. Woodruff Library.
Presented by Emory’s Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, this is the inaugural event of the Fox Center’s 2024-25 theme, “Democracy: Past, Present, Future.” Levitsky will present the keynote lecture and be joined in conversation by Anderson. The afternoon will present a thought-provoking discussion about the current challenges facing democracies worldwide: in addition to the United States, more than 70 nations will conduct major elections in 2024.
This event is free and open to the public, and registration is required. Participants are also able to attend the event via Zoom.
10. Hear about Native American narratives and stories from creators.
Join an inspiring conversation with Native American creators on Friday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m. in the Oxford Road Building presentation room. “Native American Narratives in Comedy and Entertainment” will bring Native American artists and changemakers together to discuss the importance of Native representation and storytelling in contemporary media. The event is presented by the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies and the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Panelists include television writers Brian Bahe and Siena East, along with director, writer and actor Tai Leclaire. Comedian and actor Adrianne Chalepah will moderate the program.
The discussion is free to attend, but registration is required.