About the University of Iowa Environmental Law Society

In 1978, the Environmental Law Society (ELS) was organized by students to enrich the curricular and research offerings. ELS has provided a forum for environmental law topics by sponsoring lectures and hosting symposia in natural resources, energy, and environmental law. 

These events have increased in frequency since the advent of HELI, who partners on numerous events and programming with ELS. 

Today, the purpose of the Environmental Law Society (ELS) is to enable law and university students to engage with environmental law and policy issues through volunteer and informational events. ELS also facilitates professional networking for law students. 

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Upcoming Events

ELS hosts events and partners with other UI and community groups to collaborate on events. Everyone is welcomed to attend these events!

Upcoming ELS Events

Data Centers in Iowa: Identifying Knowledge Gaps, Data Needs, and Research Priorities Stakeholder Session promotional image

Data Centers in Iowa: Identifying Knowledge Gaps, Data Needs, and Research Priorities Stakeholder Session

Friday, February 6, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm
Boyd Law Building

This planning session is invite only. For questions or details, contact brupe@uiowa.edu.

From Statutes to Soil: How Environmental Law and Geoscience Interact in Practice promotional image

From Statutes to Soil: How Environmental Law and Geoscience Interact in Practice

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Boyd Law Building

What happens when environmental lawyers and geoscientists team up to tackle contaminated sites? Join Iowa Law alum Michael Dunning (Partner at Perkins Coie) and David Cook (Principal Geologist at the State of Washington Water Research Center) for a candid conversation on real-world collaboration at the intersection of law, science, and redevelopment - from hazardous waste cleanup to major urban projects. This joint HELI-SEES session will explore why interdisciplinary fluency isn’t just useful in...

Data Centers in Iowa: Perspectives from Community, Government, and Research promotional image

Data Centers in Iowa: Perspectives from Community, Government, and Research

Monday, March 9, 2026 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Virtual
This panel will offer a high-level overview of how community, government, and industry considerations shape data center development in Iowa and the broader Midwest.
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Join us in exploring the fascinating world of environmental law, while advocating for sustainability, clean energy, and a greener future. From exciting events to insightful discussions, we've got a lot in store for you!

We're here to provide you with valuable resources to help you navigate the environmental law sector through networking opportunities, job listings, and peer advising.

Whether you are set on an environmental law career or simply intrigued by the subject, we are the org for you!

Stay tuned for updates, events, and opportunities.

 

 

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Contact Us

Contact ELS leadership at studorg-envlawsocy@uiowa.edu 

Get involved

Get involved with Iowa ELS!