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Science@ASU
Sustainability and Energy
Sustainability is often confused with the environmentalism, but at Arizona State University the concept is much broader than that. Sustainability is a fundamental principle that underlies ASU's learning, research, partnering and business operations. We have set an ambitious agenda to become a world leader among universities in finding and sharing sustainable solutions for a rapidly urbanizing planet.
Why ASU? ASU is uniquely position to respond swiftly and lead the way, with its dynamic energy, entrepreneurial spirit, quality and commitment to sustainability. The quality of society, the health of the environment and the strength of the global economy depend on finding solutions to multiple challenges of sustainability. ASU and our partners possess the intellectual assests to advance discovery, spawn innovation, transfer knowledge and transform behaviors.
The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub for Arizona State University’s sustainability initiatives. The institute advances research, education and business practices for an urbanizing world. Its School of Sustainability, the first comprehensive program of its kind in the U.S., offers transdisciplinary degree programs focused on finding practical solutions to environmental, economic and social challenges. In addition, The Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives utilize the considerable knowledge and research assets housed within the Wrigley Institute and the school to develop scalable solutions to solve environmental challenges and educate and engage global audiences to become future leaders for change.
With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, making our cities sustainable is key. The institute is joined by researchers across the university, including those in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, School of Life Sciences and Biodesign Institute, to offer special emphasis on urban environments in research and education, particularly focusing on greater Phoenix as an urban laboratory where solutions to water, energy, transportation and livability are largely applicable to other rapidly urbanizing areas around the world.
ASU strives to address a broad spectrum of global challenges, including: energy, materials and technology; water quality and supply; international development; ecosystems; social transformations; food and food systems; and policy and governance.
Use these links to review ASU's Sustainability Plan or take an online tour of ASU's Sustainability Points of Pride.
The Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment aims to be an incubator of novel research on collective action and the commons.
Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics is a research partnership to develop geotechnical engineering processes and solutions inspired by nature.
The mission of the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is to enable discoveries and solutions to conserve and sustainably manage the Earth's biodiversity.
The expert team with the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science leads spatially-explicit scientific and technological research focused on mitigating and adapting to global environmental change.
The Center for Global Sustainability and Cultural Transformation builds research and teaching with an emphasis on transforming society, fusing intellectual disciplines and engaging globally.
The College of Global Futures brings together leaders, including 500+ sustainability scientists, to develop real-world solutions to environmental, economic and social challenges.
The ecoSERVICES Group at ASU studies the environment and biodiversity change in terms of its impacts on the things that people care about.
Global Drylands Center advances education and engagement in sustainable practices for drylands around the world.
The Global Futures Laboratory™ will design implementable options to sustain global habitability and improve well-being for all humankind.
The Institute for Data-Intensive Research brings together experts in cutting-edge information sciences, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and power systems engineering, making electrical grids smarter, safer and more sustainable.
At ASU, sustainability is more than a buzzword: it is a philosophy that advances research, education and business practices for an urbanizing world.
The Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute for Public Policy promotes research, analysis, collaboration and dialogue to ensure sound water stewardship.
LightWorks aspires to engage through social networks to promote light-inspired research at Arizona State University and raise awareness, educate and inspire action to solve energy challenges.
Research at the National Center of Excellence for SMART Innovations is focused on the sustainable systems that include climate, energy and materials.
Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies Center advances photovoltaics and advanced energy converters to revitalize, renew and revolutionize the U.S. energy industry.
Geographical studies at ASU include research and outreach in geography, urban planning and GIS, exciting undergraduate and graduate degree programs, interdisciplinary centers, and significant community outreach.
What is ahead for society can and will be built with some of the world’s most creative scientists, students, educators at ASU and with our global partners.
The knowledge and solutions that are created today will shape our quality of life as well as future generations–we have an opportunity and an obligation to make our world more sustainable.
The primary mission of The Biomimicry Center is to enhance academia’s ability to address a variety of sustainability challenges using strategies inspired by nature.
Urban Climate Research Center integrates social and physical science to develop and test urban design and management policies and strategies to enhance productivity, health and sustainability of urban populations.
