Centers, Institutes and Programs

BBCS

The Bridging Biodiversity and Conservation Science group (BBCS) is a cross-campus initiative, established in 2017, that addresses the interdisciplinary scientific and societal grand challenges associated with developing and implementing the emerging transitions needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. To do this, the BBCS links campus strengths in conservation, human health biodiversity, and societal well-being.

Carson Scholars Program

The Carson Scholars Program is dedicated to training the next generation of environmental researchers in the art of public communication. Throughout the scholarship year, Carson Scholars work closely with faculty mentors who provide hands-on training and other resources to develop skills and strategies to effectively convey the value of their research and enhance their skills in communicating science to a variety of audiences.

CCASS

The Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS) draws on an interdisciplinary group of researchers who study, inform, and work collaboratively with  governmental, non-governmental, and private sectors to offer creative and unique approaches to complex problems related to climate change and its impacts.

CLIMAS

The mission of the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) program is to improve the region’s ability to respond sufficiently and appropriately to climatic events and climate changes. The program promotes participatory, iterative research involving scientists, decision makers, resource users, educators, and others who need more and better information about climate and its impacts. 

The Agnese Nelms Haury Program

The Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice supports people working to protect our planet and ensure justice for those who inhabit it. With a dedicated focus on our core causes, we invest funding in education and scholarship, University-community partnerships and cross-cutting initiatives, all through a remarkable endowment from philanthropist and scholar Agnese Nelms Haury.

IES

The Institute for Energy Solutions (IES) provides a hub for cross-college energy science, policy and technology research and development, which benefits the public and enhances the land-grant mission of the University of Arizona. The Institute is a platform for energy experts, who work closely with industry, NGOs, government and communities to address emerging energy challenges and opportunities.  

IRAP

Within NOAA’s Climate and Societal Interactions Program (CSI), International Research and Applications (IRAP) supports interdisciplinary research focused on countries and regions where weather and climate impacts may affect U.S. economic, development, scientific and security interests. The current project, led by AIR's Zack Guido, works collaboratively with public health decision makers and partner organizations engaged in operational weather and climate services to increase resilience to weather and climate in Puerto Rico and Dominica.

SW CASC

The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) is a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and consortium partners: the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Colorado State University, Desert Research Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC-San Diego, UC-Davis, UCLA, and Utah State University. The SW CASC is one of eight Climate Adaptation Science Centers, with a mission of providing objective scientific information, tools, and techniques that land, water, wildlife, and cultural resource managers and other interested parties can apply to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change impacts in the Southwest U.S.

Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill

A unique combination of ecology and culture, the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill is an 860-acre ecological preserve in the heart of Tucson. Its innovative, sustained, long-term environmental studies have made it a U.S. National Historical Landmark. It is also the world's first and oldest restoration ecology project. Today, researchers continue to track these changes as well as delve deeper into the functioning, origin and future of the Sonoran Desert.

University Climate Change Coalition (UC3)

Together, 19 leading North American research institutions, including the University of Arizona, are all working together to expand our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working with community partners to encourage climate-related resilience. Providing leadership on these issues is critical to our community, our economy, and to our students’ success, both now and after they graduate.

The long-term goal of UC3 is to make existing UArizona resilience activities more visible and to provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the community through these efforts. 

WEST Center

The Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center is the University’s leading facility in the development of new technologies that deal with water scarcity and reuse. The facility is co-located at the Agua Nueva water campus of Pima County, allowing pilot scale evaluation of innovative energy-saving wastewater treatments.