Research Initiatives and Programs

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy 

Collaboration of Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and IBM.

The SW-IFL studies the rapidly urbanizing "megaregion" that stretches across the state of Arizona from the Mexican border in the south to the Navajo (Diné) Nation in the north. This region is experiencing stresses resulting from a warming climate and population growth. SW-IFL will provide scientists and decision-makers with high-quality, relevant knowledge capable of guiding responses to extreme heat.

Ladd Keith –UA Institutional Lead 
Kirsten Lake – UA Program Coordinator 
Kristi Currans – Co-Investigator 
Kenneth Kokroko – Co-Investigator 
Philip Stoker – Co-Investigator

Malini Roy- Postdoctoral Research Associate

Learn more about the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL)

Funded by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Collaboration of the University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, and Inter Tribal Council of Arizona

CLIMAS is a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnership (CAP) and was established to address the Southwest region's climate challenges through collaborative research. CLIMAS addresses the impact of climate variability and the long-term warming trend on social phenomena such as population growth, economic development, and vulnerable populations, as well as natural systems. One of the focus areas for CLIMAS is exploring rural, border, and tribal heat resilience.

Ladd Keith – Co-Investigator

Learn more about the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS)

Funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

Collaboration with Arizona Department of Health Services, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Pima County, and Maricopa County.

The five-year grant through the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is part of the CDC’s Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework, a five-step process that allows health officials to develop strategies and programs to help communities prepare for the health effects of climate change.

Ladd Keith – Co-Investigator

Learn more about the Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE)

Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health

The Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health (SCORCH) supports cross-disciplinary researchers and community partners to plan and implement programs that will help underserved communities in hot and dry geographic regions adapt to climate-driven health threats. The Center’s applied research in the Southwestern United States will build knowledge and practice that will benefit communities globally.

Ladd Keith – Co-Investigator 
Shujuan Li – Co-Investigator 
Mackenzie Waller – Co-Investigator

Learn more about the Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health (SCORCH)

Funded by the U.S. National Integrated Heat Health Information System 

Collaboration of the University of California – Los Angeles, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University

The Center for Heat Resilient Communities will support communities in determining the best strategies for local heat mitigation and management, leveraging federal investments to enhance heat resilience, and using decision-support tools to develop data-driven and equity-centered heat strategies.

Ladd Keith – UA Institutional Lead

Learn more about the Center for Heat Resilient Communities

Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Collaboration of Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy and the UA Drachman Institute.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided funding to create one of the first Housing Centers of Excellence, establishing the Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES). ARCHES is co-located across the ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy and the UA Drachman Institute, led by co-directors Alison Cook-Davis and Kenny Wong, with principal investigator Deirdre Pfeiffer and co-principal investigator Daniel Kuhlmann. 

Its robust collaboration among Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) includes over 20 researchers from Arizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona (UA), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and University of New Mexico (UNM) with housing expertise across planning, policy, architecture, geographical sciences, political science, economics, and real estate.

Kenny H. Wong - Co-Director and Co-PI
Daniel Kuhlmann - Co-PI and Principal Investigator
Courtney Crosson - Co-Investigator 
Arlie Adkins - Co-Investigator
Atticus Jaramillo - Co-Investigator

Learn more about the Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES) 

Funded by the National Science Foundation.

Following the conceptual models of net zero energy and carbon systems, the overall purpose is to define and examine the viability and value of pursuing a Net Zero Urban Water (NZUW) approach in arid and semi-arid urban scenarios of varying size and location serviced by the Colorado River (e.g., Los Angeles, Denver, Albuquerque, Tucson). NZUW is a place-based, comprehensive, quantitative framework to guide the development of resilient and sustainable water systems that are capable of responding to acute shocks of chronic stressors and integrate dynamic socio-environmental systems into the analysis. NZUW is a framework that pushes the current conceptual boundaries of urban water systems by accounting for the Integrated socio-environmental systems necessary to transition to a resilient, sustainable water future.

Courtney Crosson - Principal Investigator
Rashi Bhushan - Post-Doctoral Associate 

Other university in the research coordination network include 

• University of California Los Angeles
• University of New Mexico
• Colorado State University 
• Colorado School of Mines

Learn more about Net Zero Urban Water Research Coordination Network.