Skip to main content

Campus

Common Fly is a 15-minute stop-motion film about a housefly who is deeply unsatisfied with his family life and, most crucially, his job at a company that makes him feel insignificant. Created by radio/television/film major Ian Castracane and nearly three dozen fellow students, the film premiered at Northwestern’s MultiStudio Premiere event last year and won Best Animated Short at the 2024 Boston Film Festival in September.

Learn more about the film

commonfly
Fresh guacamole and veggie garlic noodles are just two of the many dishes Northwestern students have taught local youth how to make as part of MiniChefz, a Northwestern student organization that provides nutrition education to elementary and middle school students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Learn about the group

A chef slices vegetables on a wooden cutting board.
The first in his family to go to college, Adam Karr ’93 gained a foundation in behavioral economics at Northwestern and now serves as president and portfolio manager at Orbis Investments and vice chairman of the Northwestern Board of Trustees. He shares why empowering young minds is one of the best investments for the future.

Read his story

An illustrated headshot of Adam Karr, drawn in blue and black lines.
Professor Vicky Kalogera and her colleagues have been advancing innovation at the intersection of AI and astrophysics for years, positioning the University as a leader in this area. Northwestern’s ascent is reflected most recently in its leadership of the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI Institute), which will develop AI astronomy tools that will allow researchers to make breakthrough discoveries.

Read Kalogera’s essay

With her arms folded, professor Vicky Kalogera leans against a wall with the CIERA logo in the background.
A new fellowship program is helping Northwestern MBA and graduate students address the urgent challenges of climate change. The Abrams Climate Academy will empower the next generation of leaders in business, science, engineering, product design, communication, law and public service to act on climate problems.

Learn more about the academy

A student speaks with her hand raised at the Kellogg Climate Conference, as two students watch her in the background.
Materials scientist Cécile Chazot and her team are striving to boost the functionality of polymers and design new, more sustainable materials — ones that not only are functional and high-performing but also can be manufactured with a far lower carbon footprint and recycled more easily.

Learn more about Chazot’s research

A white machine holds a spool of thread.
Professors Eli Finkel ’97 and Nour Kteily have spent years working to understand — and find solutions to — polarization, misperception and conflict. In February 2024 they co-founded the Center for Enlightened Disagreement, an innovative University-wide research hub, to bring together leading thinkers, conduct research and help us all have healthier conversations.

Learn more

CED Hero
President Michael H. Schill reflects on his belief in and commitment to the mission of higher education.

Read the letter

Michael Schill, wearing a blue suit, purple polka-dot tie and glasses, is smiling and looking away from the camera, with his hands behind his back and his body turned slightly to the left.

Bird Watcher

Winter 2025
Photographer and avid birder Collin Porter ’24 spent his days at Northwestern going on early-morning bird walks, during which he spotted 196 unique avian species on the Evanston campus. As he prepares to pursue graduate studies in ecological and evolutionary research and ornithology, he shares his photographs with the hope that they will inspire others to seek out and marvel at the diversity of birds, both on campus and beyond.

Get into bird-watching

Photo of a white and brown striped bird in a tree.
Students in the Class of 2028 hail from all 50 states and 90 countries. Meet some of these rising stars.

Read the story

An aerial view of students from the Class of 2028 on a football field, where the students are arranged to form a giant purple N as well as the number 2028.