Reading Series
Wick Poetry Center
Readings & Events
Fall 2026
Poetry for our Planet
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
6:00pm
American Museum of Natural History,
Kaufmann Theater
New York City
Poetry for Our Planet is an evening of poetry, reflection, and discussion on climate leading up to Climate Week NYC. Join celebrated poets Jane Hirshfield, Kimiko Hahn, and Brandon Kilbourne for this special program uniting poetry, climate arts, and lively opportunities for community building and creativity.
This event kicks off a year of national programming celebrating 10 years of the Wick Poetry Center’s Poets for Science initiative. It is co-presented in partnership with the Gottesman Research Library and Learning Center at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and The Climate Museum.
Celebrating Our Own and Open Mic
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
7:00pm
Murphy Auditorium, Rockwell Hall
Reception to follow
Celebrating Our Own is the Wick Poetry Center’s annual reading to celebrate the winners of the undergraduate poetry contests and scholarships. The reading will feature undergraduate and honors students reading from their winning poems followed by an open mic and small reception.
This event is free and open to the public.
Sony Ton-Aime Reading
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
7:00pm
Murphy Auditorium, Rockwell Hall
Book signing and reception to follow
Sony Ton-Aime is a Haitian poet, essayist, translator, and the executive director of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures. Previously, he served as the Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts at Chautauqua Institution.
His debut collection, Konbit, was published by Carnegie Mellon University Press. He is also the author of the chapbook LaWomann, the Haitian Creole translation of Olympic Hero: The Lennox Kilgour’s Story, and co-founding editor of ID13. His work has appeared in Artful Dodge, Consequence Forum, Poets.org, Idaho Review, Hunger Mountain Review, and Cleveland Review of Books, among others.
This event is free and open to the public.
Poets for Science Gathering
Thursday, November 12–Saturday, November 14, 2026
Kent State University Student Center
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Poets for Science initiative, founded by poet Jane Hirshfield in partnership with the Wick Poetry Center. To celebrate, Kent State University will host poets, scientists, educators, artists, students, and community leaders from across the country for three days of conversation, creativity, and collaboration at the intersection of poetry and science.
The gathering will include 12 featured speakers, including the current U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, and more than 75 sessions led by renowned writers, scientists, educators, artists, clinicians, and community activists, all who are helping to shape the growing conversation between the arts and sciences.
