Sustainability Highlights

A higher-ed transformation that could help save the planet

In a May 2016 article in Huffpost Green, the directorate of the ASU Wrigley Institute contends that universities can be instrumental in closing the gap between mega-problems and their solutions by making knowledge implementation a goal, rather than knowledge generation and dissemination alone.

Sustainability Highlights magazine covers a notable 2015

For an in-depth look at what the ASU Wrigley Institute accomplished last year – including a School of Sustainability professor among the Popular Science "Brilliant 10," media visibility at the Paris Climate Conference and an international network to combat extreme weather impacts – browse our newly-released 2015 Sustainability Highlights magazine.

Meeting emissions targets after Paris climate talks

Concerned about the effects climate change will have on its infrastructure projects, the World Bank asked ASU's School of Sustainability to design and deliver a "how-to" on inventorying carbon emissions, which was presented in Washington, D.C. to officials from around the world.

Partnership drives international sustainability education

A joint education program between Arizona State and Beijing Normal universities allows qualified undergraduates who complete three years at BNU to transfer to ASU for their final year, with the option of pursuing a Master of Sustainability Solutions at the School of Sustainability after graduation.

Thinking circularly in a rapidly-growing megacity

To help address the mounting challenges of Africa's most populous city – Lagos, Nigeria – the Global Sustainability Solutions Services of ASU’s Walton Initiatives hosted a three-day, first-of-its-kind workshop titled "Introduction to Ethical Circular Economy" at the Sustainability School Lagos.

A big boost for bioenergy research at ASU

Two ASU biofuel projects are among six nationwide receiving $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to explore innovative solutions in bioenergy: one aims to lessen the cost of algal production while increasing yield, and the other aims to create an economically competitive biofuel from cyanobacteria.

NASA funds first ASU student team to run space satellite

An interdisciplinary team featuring a School of Sustainability student and faculty member has been awarded $200,000 by NASA to design and build a bread loaf-sized satellite that will investigate how human activity and weather create urban heat islands around the Valley.

Sustainability grad named among 30 young standouts

A sustainability project coordinator for Arizona Public Service, School of Sustainability graduate Jeffrey Jennings was recently named among the 2016 GreenBiz "30 Under 30" – a group of emerging sustainability leaders from throughout the country tackling some of the toughest challenges in business.

Love of a language shapes sustainability grad's path

An enlightening study abroad experience, expanded job prospects and a Fullbright Scholarship are just a few of the ways recent School of Sustainability graduate Bridget Harding's life has been influenced by her interest in Korean, which she studied throughout high school and her time at ASU.

Adapting to climate change while working to reverse it

A March 2016 report titled “Adaptation for a High Energy Planet: A Climate Pragmatism Project," co-authored by sustainability scientists Dan Sarewitz and Netra Chhetri, says that efforts to reverse climate change are not fast-acting enough – practical steps must be taken now to blunt disasters.

Solar panels: worth it? ASU expert discusses on FOX 10

In a May 2016 segment of "Is it worth it?" on FOX 10 Arizona Morning, ASU senior sustainability scientist Harvey Bryan answered frequently-asked questions about installing solar panels on a home, including detailing the types of panels, plans and providers that are available.

Camels don't fly, deserts don't bloom

This 2016 documentary by a team of seven ASU students, under the direction of sustainability scientist Peter Byck, explores why a Saudi Arabian-owned farming operation is growing hay year-round in the desert of Arizona and what this means for the state's water security.