Bucky Fuller Dome Home

10/21/2026

The first carved pumpkin has arrived for the dome glow and it of course has a special place in our heart. A huge thanks to Ron Naverson for creating this beauty. We have heard of other pumpkin plans that we are getting excited about. Will the Chemistry student organization carve a Fullerene? What are you carving? We can’t wait to see and share it with the community. The glow happens Oct. 31st and Nov 1st and we’d love to have your pumpkins by 4pm on the 31st or you can arrange to drop them off before.

10/21/2026

Some of the cosmic surfers after today’s gathering at Bucky’s Haven! It was a perfect day for chili and conversation under the dome and by the lake. Special thanks to Benjamin Lowder and Steve Gariepy for some great shares.

10/20/2026

So, a planetary strategist and an innovation director come to Carbondale… 🌎✨

And that’s not even the most interesting part of the story!

TODAY we’re welcoming Dr. Stuart Cowan and Sara Blenkhorn from the Buckminster Fuller Institute for a day of conversations, connections, and imagining what’s possible.

🌶️ 12–2 | Bucky’s Haven , Chili, cosmic surfing with Steve Gariepy, and a little Bucky magic with Ben Lowder!

⭐ 5 PM | Guyon Auditorium , Designing Futures That Flourish. This is the big one, and you really don’t want to miss it! Presentations, conversation, and a reception (5–7 PM).

Come be part of it!

The Buckminster Fuller Institute consists of a dedicated Board of Directors, an international network of cross-disciplinary thinkers and doers, motivated volunteers and a small but multi-faceted st…

10/20/2026

Make some pumpkin art!

Organizers of the fourth annual Jon Davey Memorial Dome Glow in Carbondale are inviting the community to help carve pumpkins for this year’s Halloween celebration. 🎃 Learn more...https://shorturl.at/YaKjI

10/19/2026

The dome looking rather debonair and dramatic this beautiful fall day ❤️🍁🍂

10/19/2026

The Dymaxion Map is settling into its new (temporary) home in the third-floor rotunda of Morris Library, just in time for a special visit from the Buckminster Fuller Institute!
BFI helped make bringing this incredible map to SIU possible, and we’re excited to welcome Executive Director Dr. Stuart Cowan and Director of Innovation Sarah Blenkhorn for a couple of days of conversations, connections, and exploring what’s possible through Fuller’s ideas.

We hope you’ll join us!

Tuesday, October 20
12–2 PM | Bucky’s Haven — Chili, cornbread, cosmic surfing with Steve Gariepy, art with Ben Lowder, music, and good company!

5–7 PM | Designing Futures That Flourish — Our main event in Guyon Auditorium! Hear from our BFI guests about how Fuller’s ideas are being put to work today, followed by a reception.

Wednesday, October 21
11 AM–Noon | Conversations with BFI — A smaller, informal gathering in the Honors Lounge. Come with questions, ideas, or just curiosity. Pizza at noon!

It’s going to be a wonderful couple of days celebrating Fuller’s legacy here in Carbondale while looking toward what comes next.

All are welcome. Come be part of the conversation! And a huge shout out to Morris Library for being so accommodating in finding space for the map.

10/18/2026

Update! We found pumpkins and are so grateful to the supporter that made the connection to a grower. Yes! Please consider carving pumpkin or two for this years glow!

🎃 YES, WE NEED PUMPKINS! And a little community help to make this year’s Dome Glow happen!

We’re getting ready for our Fourth Annual Jon Davey Memorial Dome Glow, and this year we’re celebrating on Halloween AND Día de los Mu***os!

Nearly 200 people joined us last year! With more SIU student groups involved and some special additions planned, we’re excited to see this Carbondale tradition grow.

But first, we need your help!

🎃 PUMPKINS! Our biggest need! We’re looking for about 40 pumpkins, primarily for students who want to participate in carving. Have extra pumpkins, know a grower with a surplus, or have a connection with a business that could donate? We’d love your help! We need them by early next week!

And we’d love YOUR carved pumpkins, too! Carve one at home and contribute it to the Glow. Think beyond the ordinary jack-o’-lantern!

🍬 CANDY! Unopened bags of individually wrapped candy for our trick-or-treaters.

✨ LIGHTS & DECORATIONS! String lights, fairy lights, spiderwebs, or other Halloween decorations.

🖤 DISPLAY MATERIALS! Black crates, hay bales, or other sturdy items to display pumpkins.

Monetary donations are welcome! Checks payable to RBF Dome Pres or PayPal through our website (link in comments).

Dome Glow is a volunteer-led fundraiser for the Fuller Dome Home nonprofit. Your support helps keep this growing tradition free for everyone!

Can you help? Comment or message us! We can coordinate pickup or drop-off.

🎃 DOME GLOW | OCT. 31 & NOV. 1 | 6–9 PM

Walk the grounds of the glowing Dome, enjoy extraordinary pumpkin art, a fire, classic spooky movies, candy, and a special MFA projection art exhibition at the Visitor Center!

No Dome tours during the event, but you can explore the grounds and peek through the windows…if you dare!

Dome Glow has always been a community effort, and that’s one of the things we love most about it. 🧡

10/16/2026

Next week, we’re welcoming Dr. Stuart Cowan and Sara Blenkhorn of the Buckminster Fuller Institute to SIU! They’re doing fascinating work around the world, applying Fuller’s ideas to climate solutions, regenerative design, and some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.

We’re excited about what they’ll share, but just as excited about the conversations and connections that might happen while they’re here. We have three opportunities to meet, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.

🌎 Tuesday, October 20, noon to 2 PM
Chili, Cosmic Surfing & Conversation at Bucky’s Haven

Come hang out by Campus Lake! Chili, cornbread, Cosmic Surfing with Steve Gariepy, and artist Ben Lowder sharing the story behind Bucky’s Haven. Meet our guests, try something new, and enjoy the afternoon!

🌎 Tuesday, October 20, 5 to 7 PM
Designing Futures That Flourish at Guyon Auditorium

Our featured event! Stuart and Sara will share their work, the collaborations they’re building, and how Fuller’s ideas are taking shape around the world. Presentations, discussion, and a reception with time to connect.

🌎 Wednesday, October 21, 11 AM to noon
Your Questions. Their Experience. at the Honors Lounge

This one’s all about conversation. Bring your questions, your projects, your ideas, and your perspectives. We’d love to hear what you’re working on and thinking about, too! We’ll follow the discussion with pizza for everyone who participates.

All three events are free and open to everyone, made possible through SIU’s Glassman Distinguished Speaker Series.

We hope you’ll join us for one or all three. And please help us spread the word!

10/12/2026

Save the date.
October 20th. 5-7pm
Guyon Auditorium
Talks, discussion and reception.
Here’s to flourishing futures.

10/09/2026

We are SO excited to welcome the Buckminster Fuller Institute to Carbondale on October 20th & 21st! Save the date, you don’t want to miss it.

What a wonderful opportunity to bring these two extraordinary thinkers to the university and town where Bucky Fuller spent so many years teaching, experimenting, and imagining what might be possible!

Stuart Cowan, Executive Director of the Buckminster Fuller Institute, is a leading voice in regenerative design and planetary systems. His work explores how we can rethink the systems we live within and create a future where people and the planet can flourish.

Sara Blenkhorn, BFI’s Director of Innovation, brings a fascinating background in art, design, sustainability, and emerging technologies, including AI. Her work focuses on how we can take big ideas and turn them into meaningful change.

Both will give presentations, followed by a group discussion and an opportunity to continue the conversation at a reception.

Tuesday, October 20
5–7 PM | Presentations, discussion, and reception
Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library, SIU Carbondale
Free and open to the public!

Whether you’re interested in art, architecture, sustainability, technology, AI, or simply thinking about how we might create a better future, I hope you’ll join us!

We have some other cool things planned. If you are interested in connecting for other parts of their visit email Elizabeth Donoghue at [email protected].

Come be part of the conversation!

Read more about our guests and their work in the SIU News article below. Check out the Buckminster Fuller Institute website for more on their incredible work.

Explore the enduring relevance of the ideas of noted futurist, architect, designer — and former Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty member — R. Buckminster Fuller during a special evening presented by the University Honors Program.