Northern Michigan University will offer a new faculty-led special topics course next semester that includes travel to the San Francisco Bay area to compare its urban food systems and partners with those in the rural Marquette area. Information sessions are scheduled at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Jacobetti room 200 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Northern Center room 2214.

Emily Lanctot, director and curator of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum, recently participated in a two-week residency that brings an international consortium of artists to Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy. The gathering culminates in an exhibition of artworks and corresponding catalog.  

Northern Michigan University's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is featuring a landmark exhibition titled “Claiming Michigan: The 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass.” The governor of the Michigan territory and 35 companions traveled from Detroit to what would become Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The exhibit includes a 30-foot replica voyageur canoe on loan from La Compagnie Historical Society of Minnesota, dozens of images, journal excerpts, detailed narrative information and large-format maps.

Northern Michigan University environmental studies and sustainability major Elizabeth Williams completed a three-month internship at BLOXHUB, the Nordic hub for sustainable urbanization in Copenhagen, Denmark. She pursued the opportunity as a recipient of the prestigious Voyager Scholarship created by the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. She states her dream is to redesign cities in ways that are equitable and financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Northern Michigan University's vocal ensembles, under the direction of Erin Colwitz, will present two free performances this month in Reynolds Recital Hall. The NMU Arts Chorale will join participating U.P. high school groups for the NMU Choral Festival evening concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9. It will also perform with the NMU Choir in a fall concert titled "Women in Music" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.