Res Publica

For more details and events, see Community Listings.

Thursday01

AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT Scott Swearingen discusses his book Environmental City: People, Place, Politics, and the Meaning of Mod­ern Austin. 7:30pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

MINORITY MENTORSHIP SYMPOSIUM UT Women's Track & Field coach Beverly Kearney hosts this three-day event with panel discussions, community service opportunities, celebrity guests, and more. Thu.-Sat., April 1-3. AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., 818/201-5825. www.bevkearneypursuitofdreams.com.

LINCOLN & DARWIN The New Yorker's Adam Gop­nik discusses themes from his Angels and Ages: A Short Book About Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life. 6:30pm. AT&T Center, 1900 University Ave., 471-5692. Free. www.meetattexas.com.

PUBLIC FORUM: 2035 TRANSPORTATION PLAN 4-7pm. Covington Middle School, 3700 Convict Hill Rd. www.campotexas.org.

VIDEO CONTEST DEADLINE The State Bar of Tex­as wants your cinematic take on these questions: Why are lawyers important to our society? How is the court system important to our society? The prize: $500. Deadline: April 1. www.texasbar.com.

Friday02

BILINGUAL CENSUS HELP The folks at nonprofit Southwest Key are happy to help you fill out your census form. 10am-2pm. Southwest Key Community Center, 6002 Jain. Free. www.swkey.org.

DEBATE HOSTED BY THOMAS FREEMAN The debate coach who taught Martin Luther King Jr. and Barbara Jordan brings his debate team to town for an oratorical showdown. 7pm. Delco Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Dr.

Saturday03

FUNKY CHICKEN COOP TOUR Take a self-guided tour of Austin's urban chicken coops. 10am-4pm. Free. www.fccooptour.blogspot.com.

LAWNMOWER TRADE-IN EVENT Trade in your gas-guzzler for a discounted electric model that won't mess with Texas air quality. Home Depot, 3600 S. I-35. For details, call 389-2250 or see www.cmpbs.org/electriclawnmower.

Monday05

BILINGUAL CENSUS HELP (See Friday.) 10am-2pm. Southwest Key, 6002 Jain. Free. www.swkey.org.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS for the April 13 primary run-offs. See "The 'Chronicle' Endorsements," "One Dem Run-off: Sage vs. Montford," "Republicans Vie for Bolton's Seat," and "SBOE District 1." Early voting: Mon.-Fri., April 5-9. austinchronicle.com/elections.

Tuesday06

CENTRAL TEXAS DEMOCRATIC FORUM Texas Freedom Network's Kathy Miller talks about our shameless State Board of Education. 11:45am-1pm. Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress #700, 320-0665. $20. www.centraltxdemocraticforum.com.

'UNIVERSITY INC.' SCREENING/PANEL DISCUS­SION Want some historical context for UT's recent move to close the Cactus Cafe and discontinue informal classes? (Not to mention the athletics program; see "UT to End Football Program.") Watch this doc about the obliteration of the Texas Union Film Program in 1998. 7:30pm. Texas Union Theatre, UT campus. [email protected].

Wednesday07

GAME ON! TEXAS Learn about Texas' educational infrastructure for the growing video-game industry. Rick Perry will be there to offer his two cents and no more. (See "A Piece of the Action," Screens, for more.) 9am-5pm. AMD Lone Star Campus, 7171 Southwest Pkwy. $95. www.bit.ly/gameon_agenda.

TEXAS TRADE UP APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM Reserve your rebate today for replacing that old, energy-hogging appliance with a new, Energy Star-approved model. www.texaspowerfulsmart.org.

WALLER CREEK COMMITTEE PUBLIC WORK­SHOP Preview the master plan for the Waller Creek district. Call or e-mail to RSVP. 6-8:30pm. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., 974-3462. [email protected], www.cityofaustin.org/wallercreek.

Thursday8

JACK GOLDSMITH ON TERROR PRESIDENCIES The former Bush administration official discusses Bush's counterterrorism program and Obama's embracing of that same policy. 6pm. LBJ Library, 2313 Red River. Free.

Ongoing

2035 TRANSPORTATION PLAN Submit comments at www.campotexas.org. Deadline: April 13, 5pm.

EARTH DAY COUNTDOWN Join the Texas Regional Sierra Club's Earth Day Revolution countdown with daily Twitter and Facebook updates and a new calendar of green events at www.texas.sierraclub.org.

GET YOURSELF TESTED For info and advice on STD testing, call 800/230-PLAN or visit www.ppaustin.org. (For more, see "Naked City.")

SPEAK WEEK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Help city planners interview people around town about their visions for Austin's future; training provided. April 20-29. 974-6004. [email protected].