UB’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Center invites the community to join in its second annual “Strengthening Families Celebration” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at EOC, 555 Ellicott St., on UB’s Downtown Campus.

Robert J. Beichner, a faculty member at North Carolina State University and creator of the SCALE-UP (Student Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies) project, will deliver the keynote address at the annual Genteels’ Excellence in Teaching Conference on Oct. 9.

President Satish K. Tripathi will deliver the annual State of the University Address at 11 a.m. Oct. 9 in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, North Campus.

Rethinking the concept of sustainability in this time of climate change is the topic of the Fall Environmental Law and Policy Gathering, to be held from 4:40-6 p.m. Oct. 8 in 509 O’Brian Hall, North Campus.

Social justice is the theme of the Zodiaque Dance Company’s fall program, “The 42nd Season,” taking place Oct. 21-25 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Budget-conscious music lovers at UB can find much to keep them busy this month.

Open enrollment is now under way for New York State Flex Spending Accounts, which allow state employees to pay for certain dependent care or health care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

A three-day program next week organized by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on the life of celebrated composer Aaron Copland will feature a talk at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery by UB faculty member Bruce Jackson.

Kenneth H. Kurtz, a faculty member for more than 40 years in the Department of Psychology, died Sept. 21 in Elderwood at Williamsville. He was 86.

Campus Dining & Shops’ FlexiBULL Bucks plan allows faculty and staff to add money to their UB Cards to make purchases, including food, supplies and gifts, at numerous locations, both on and off campus, and at campus vending machines.

Liz Murray, the best-selling author of “Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard” and this year’s UB Reads author, will speak on Oct. 14 as part of UB’s Distinguished Speakers Series.

Braces just became a whole lot more affordable.

I enjoyed reading Charlotte Hsu's article "Engineers turn E. coli into tiny factories for producing new forms of popular antibiotic," which describes the accomplishment of UB scientists in combatting antibiotic resistance by genetically modifying and metabolically engineering E. coli bacteria to produce variations of the antibiotic erythromycin. Their feat marks another triumph for the relatively new science of synthetic biology — the application of engineering techniques to biology in order to produce new life forms useful for solving global health and environmental problems, and for advancing the scientific understanding of life itself.

Robert F. McCormack, UB professor of emergency medicine and chief of service, emergency medicine, for the Kaleida Health System, has been appointed chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He served as interim chair since January.  

UB faculty and staff interested in learning about the latest advancements in medicine can sign up for UB’s Mini Medical School, the popular lecture series that presents subjects traditionally covered in medical school and highlights clinical advances brought to Western New York by UB faculty. 

The Department of Theatre & Dance will present “Who Will Carry the Word?” Charlotte Delbo’s story of members of the French Resistance who struggle to survive in Auschwitz, Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.

“Workplace bullying: What You Can Do” is the topic of a free workshop on Oct. 28 being presented by UB’s Employee Assistance Program.

UB faculty, staff and students can show their support for healthy, seasonal eating by taking part in the fourth annual “Big Apple Crunch” on Oct. 23.

International students make up a significant percentage of the UB student population. While this offers opportunities for an enriched campus environment, enhanced cultural understanding and increased global awareness for U.S. students, it also presents special challenges. International students bring to UB expectations of academic culture that often are not compatible with U.S. academic culture.

Composer Jonathan Wolff, best known for composing more than 75 prime-time TV series theme songs, including the music for “Seinfeld,” “Married with Children” and “Will and Grace,” will speak on Oct. 21 at UB.

UB staff members can join their colleagues for some light fall refreshment and fellowship this week at two events sponsored by the Professional Staff Senate’s Social Committee.

A memorial service will be held Nov. 13 for longtime anthropology department faculty member Keith F. Otterbein, who died June 17 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 79.

Mark Shechner, longtime English department faculty member and noted James Joyce scholar, died Oct. 16 in his home in Buffalo after a short illness. He was 75.

Jody L. Lomeo, president and CEO of both Kaleida Health and the Great Lakes Health System of Western New York, has been named the 2015 Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year by the School of Management.

The School of Nursing recently guided its senior class through a poverty simulation that exposed the 127 students to the difficult economic decisions faced by low-income families.

The Office of Academic Affairs and University Life and Services are sponsoring a screening of the documentary “The Anonymous People” to raise awareness about the millions of Americans who are in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of UB’s Humanities Institute, and it's celebrating the occasion with a roundtable and reception.

Members of United University Professions who have accrued more than the maximum-allowed 40 vacation days may donate them to a UUP colleague who is seriously ill or injured and has run out of sick-leave accruals.

The Department of Music will present several concerts by student performance groups next month that offer UB music lovers a wonderful opportunity to hear great music at no cost.

UB faculty, staff and students interested in applying for a Fulbright grant to study abroad in the 2017-18 academic year can attend the fall conference of the Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania (WNY/NWPA) Chapter of the Fulbright Association, being held at UB Nov. 6.