Sustainability Highlights

ASU's Poly campus now offers degrees in sustainability

To meet an increasing demand for sustainability education, the School of Sustainability has made its popular undergraduate programs – the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts and 18-credit minor – available at ASU's Polytechnic campus.

Pioneers of environmental law to teach ASU course

In a two-week course this fall, ASU students will have the opportunity to earn credit while getting first-hand insight from the two senior staff members who led the Senate environment subcommittee during the 1970s – the so-called "Golden Age."

Hope for the sustainability of American suburbs

In his latest book, "The Future of the Suburban City," Senior Sustainability Scholar Grady Gammage explains why suburbs show promise in the era of climate change and provides examples of cities that are making strides toward resilience.

Locust outbreak brings ASU expert to Argentina

The worst locust outbreak Argentina had experienced in 60 years brought Arianne Cease, a School of Sustainability professor and locust expert, to that country to discuss rapid responses to swarms – the motivation behind her Global Locust Consortium.

A framework for fighting wicked water problems

In a recent contribution to Christian Science Monitor, School of Sustainability alumnus Christa Brelsford writes that solutions to today's water problems lie with a complex systems approach to water management.

Taking useful technology to market

Slotting it at 38th in their annual rankings of utility patents earned by universities worldwide, the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association recognized the environment of creativity fostered by ASU.

A modern twist on the age-old concept of commons

Common-pool resources – like water, air and the internet – are no stranger to debate, say the two sustainability scientists behind the latest edition of the book "Sustaining the Commons," but are also not without solutions.

Continuing a legacy of environmental ethics

In June of 2016, ASU hosted its third institute to explore how modern concepts of sustainability relate to Aldo Leopold – a man who was "one of the springboards for environmental ethics," according to Senior Sustainability Scientist Joan McGregor.

Thinking inclusively about improvements to slums

According to Senior Sustainability Scientist José Lobo, the negative effects of urbanization in the developing world may be reversed through a different approach to urban planning – namely, through data collection and community engagement.

Inaccurate emissions numbers weaken Clean Power Plan

According to an ASU study led by Senior Sustainability Scientist Kevin Gurney, federal data on power-plant carbon dioxide emissions is significantly flawed and undermines efforts to strengthen the clean-energy trend.

Seminar provides sunny outlook on solar in Kosovo

With programming support from the School of Sustainability, two ASU professors presented a two-week seminar on the renewable energy potential of Kosovo – currently powered by coal – to university faculty members in that country.

Students study culture and sustainability in Morocco

For the fourth year in a row, the School of Sustainability sponsored a study abroad excursion to Morocco, a place whose unique cultures with differing priorities illustrate to student participants the complexities of sustainable development.