Campus Calendar

Girl power by the book Cecil Castellucci's books for teens are like the anti-"Gossip Girl." Her novel "Boy Proof " is about an antisocial sci-fi geek who tries to live like a hermit but learns to accept friendship and love. "The Queen of Cool" is about a popular girl who learns there’s more to life than status. And Castellucci's graphic novel "The Plain Janes" is about an artistic teen who survives a move to the suburbs. At the Boston University Barnes & Noble, Castellucci reads from her latest novel, "Beige," about a young woman who goes to live with her musician dad in Los Angeles. You can hear more at 7 p.m. 660 Beacon St., 617-267-8484. www.bu.bkstore.com [M.G.]

"Chikanobu" Boston University throws an opening reception for "Chikanobu: Modernity and Nostalgia in Japanese Prints," an exhibit that spans 30 years in the career of woodblock print designer, Yôshû Chikanobu. Chikanobu was born into a samurai family in 1838. The 50 prints in this exhibit focus on his advocacy for modernization in the 1880s and his return to traditional Japanese values in the 1890s. The exhibit runs through Jan. 12. Reception 6-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Free. Boston University Art Gallery, Stone Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave. 617-353-3329. bu.edu/art

"Green Machines" lecture If sleeping through biology in high school has you a little lost on the science behind biofuels, tonight's lecture by Dr. Michele Holbrook at the Harvard Museum of Natural History is your chance to cram. In a talk "Green Machines: The Photosynthetic Origins of Food, Fiber, and Fuel," Holbrook will touch on the biochemistry of photosynthesis, then discuss plants as a source of liquid fuel. 6 p.m. Free with admission of $9; $7, students and seniors; $6, kids ages 3-18. 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 617-495-3045. hmnh.harvard.edu

"3 x 3" The Boston Conservatory Dance Theater presents three world premieres by three choreographers. "Fractured" by Tommy Neblett tackles the way that technology has fractured our relationships. "A Time Upon Once" by Olivier Besson is an ensemble piece that questions dependence and connection (Philip Ingrassia and Autumn Hill are pictured above). And "On the Brink" by Gianni DiMarco tackles man's assault on the globe through the medium of an abstract ballet. Tonight through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. $20, $10 seniors, $5 students. Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway St. 617-912-9222. boston conservatory.edu

"shrapnel" at Suffolk For "shrapnel," Professor Wesley Savick adapted writings from James Hillman, Chris Hedges, and Lawrence LeShan into a stage production exploring the nature of war, tackling the question: Is the human impulse for a war ingrained or can we tame our seemingly hawkish ways? The content in "shrapnel" may not be suitable for all audiences. Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. Free. Suffolk University Theatre Department, Studio Theatre, Archer Building, fourth floor, 41 Temple St., Beacon Hill. For reservations, call 617-573-8282.

"Sustainable Sculpture" MassArt is adding a sustainable sculpture to its permanent family. Monday night, the public is invited to hear artists Christopher Janney, John Tagiuri, and Thomas Whittlesey present their proposals. According to the proposal guidelines, projects must "educate the community about the principles and practice of a sustainable future" and generate enough power to move or light the project by harnessing wind, solar, or some other sustainable energy. 6-8 p.m. Free. Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Kennedy Building, Room 406, 621 Huntington Ave. massart.edu or urbanartsinstitute.org

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