ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory

Arizona State University is leading an effort to address extreme heat in Phoenix. The Greater Phoenix Urban Forestry Accelerator, a new three-year project led by ASU in partnership with local municipalities, businesses and nonprofits, aims to create neighborhood shade plans for Phoenix communities. By identifying areas with the most need, planting trees and training the workforce needed to support green infrastructure across the metropolitan area, the $5 million effort will take the edge off the area's increasingly hot summers while creating new jobs for residents in the Valley. Learn more about the project in the latest from Inside Climate News - https://lnkd.in/e5x5gnGC

Interested in learning about sustainability in the built environment? Elham Fini, a senior global futures scientist, co-authored a book,"Bio-Based and Bio-Inspired Pavement Construction Materials," that was published through Elsevier in November. It incorporates supply chain, life-cycle analysis and environmental assessments to explore the role of materials in carbon management. https://lnkd.in/gu8EJ3PF

“It’s not just about the graduations. It’s about the production of new knowledge that’s related to their own community,” said Netra Chhetri, a professor with the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at ASU and a senior global futures scientist. “The amount of knowledge they’ve generated is enormous.” Two December 2024 graduates from the ASU College of Global Futures, Shenella Benjamin and Norwell Hinds, are faculty from the University of Guyana. They both earned PhDs in innovation in global development thanks to a condensed and expedited process facilitated by the ASU Graduate College, the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and other units across the university. “The innovation did not just occur at the top, but with everyone at ASU jumping in,” said Nalini Chettri, a clinical professor with dual appointments in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the School of Sustainability. “Nobody said, ‘It’s going to be impossible.’ Everyone said, ‘Let’s make it happen.’” https://lnkd.in/gYETcuhY

Arizona Water for All, part of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative led by Amber Wutich and organized in partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) and the Environmental Defense Fund, piloted a Water Leadership Institute in South Tucson and Nogales to increase empowerment and engagement in water-decision-making among Arizona's most water-insecure communities. As Daniela Sherrill writes, 50 people from across southern Arizona gathered earlier this fall for four sessions designed to equip each participant with the skills, knowledge and network to meaningfully engage with water issues in their communities. According to evaluation data collected by surveying participants, 90% of participants reported that they felt motivated to organize and advocate for their communities, and 85% of participants reported being interested in pursuing a career related to water, climate or the environment. 🔗Learn more about this initiative on the latest from the AWII blog: https://lnkd.in/gyeaEjNN

Upmanu Lall is the founding director of the ASU Water Institute in the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.. He recently spoke with Faith Kearns of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative about his work on water, climate change, infrastructure and financing, as well as the work he is pursuing in Arizona. "Arizona and the western US are exciting places to work on water and climate. That's one of the reasons I moved here. I can see that the demand exists, but it's not clear to me the demand is being met,” says Lall. “I see opportunities in things like floating solar. Take Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the Colorado River. For Arizona’s allocation of twelve million acre feet per year, two million acre feet per year are lost to evaporation. This is a large-scale opportunity and there's strong interest from the private sector. I think getting the private sector organized with us here would be useful, and I'm starting to work on that.” Dive into their full conversation on the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative blog. https://lnkd.in/gCsrRZZ5

As the threat of forest fires becomes a larger concern, REAL AZ is working with ASU Lightworks, SRP, APEX Clean Energy, Invenergy and countless others to take action. Chris Pasterz, the Executive Director of REAL AZ, explained how fire suppression has negetively impacted fire adapted forests. When small trees are allowed to grow, they become ladder fuels, allowing brush fires to climb to the top of taller trees and spread, causing catastrophic wildfires and destroying forests. A potential solution offered up by REAL AZ and their partner organizations is to determine best practices for transporting forest waste and developing novel ways to utilize it in industrial settings. This plan to address wildfire risk and improve forest resilience at scale requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including universities, local agencies, non-profit and for profit organizations, government bodies and NGOs. 🌲Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gRhdrS34 #ForestResilience #InnovationInAction #WildfirePrevention #EconomicGrowth #Sustainability #REALAZ

Upmanu Lall is the founding director of the ASU Water Institute, housed within the ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. He recently spoke with Faith Kearns of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative about his work on water, climate change, infrastructure and financing, as well as the work he is pursuing in Arizona.   "Arizona and the western US are exciting places to work on water and climate. That's one of the reasons I moved here. I can see that the demand exists, but it's not clear to me the demand is being met,” says Lall. “I see opportunities in things like floating solar. Take Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the Colorado River. For Arizona’s allocation of twelve million acre feet per year, two million acre feet per year are lost to evaporation. This is a large-scale opportunity and there's strong interest from the private sector. I think getting the private sector organized with us here would be useful, and I'm starting to work on that.” Read the full interview on the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative's blog: https://lnkd.in/gCsrRZZ5

In tandem with the NSF Engines: Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE), ASU is committed to advancing skills and tackling our region's critical environmental challenges. If you're interested in getting involved and making an impact, enroll in the latest offering from ASU Career Catalyst. "Urban Climate: Keeping Cities Livable with Climate Research" will equip learners with the tools to address urban climate challenges and contribute to healthier, more resilient cities. Enroll in the free course here: https://lnkd.in/gPtNtqCe

🚀 Exciting news for workforce development efforts in the Southwest! The NSF Engines: Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE) launched the Workforce Development Experience Hub—a comprehensive platform designed to streamline access to education and professional development opportunities across the region. This innovative hub offers a seamless experience for discovering and enrolling in industry-specific training and courses, empowering individuals, communities and organizations to thrive. 🔍Whether you're an individual looking to advance your career, a community leader aiming to foster local talent or an organization seeking sustainable growth, this platform connects you with programs tailored to your needs. ✨ Some key features of the hub include easy search and browsing for courses across partner institutions, direct enrollment pathways for streamlined access and tools for community leaders to align resources with their objectives. By consolidating these valuable resources, the Workforce Development Experience Hub is poised to enhance workforce readiness and drive sustainable innovation across the Southwest. https://swsie.asu.edu/ #SWSIE #WorkforceDevelopment #Sustainability #ProfessionalGrowth #Innovation

In a new partnership between the global research network Future Earth and Arizona State University, the ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory will house a new hub to coordinate research to underpin global sustainability transformation efforts.  “This partnership will strengthen our collective efforts to envision and create a world where all will thrive on a healthy planet," said Peter Schlosser, Vice President and Vice Provost of the Global Futures Laboratory. "We are encouraged by the possibilities ahead and eager to work together on our planet's urgent challenges.” https://lnkd.in/gnefi89S