Our researchers are leading the way in critical areas.
Data
Beyond people, data is our most valuable resource for expanding human potential. At U of A, innovative information systems and computational methods are being used to transform big data into knowledge. Collaborative, transdisciplinary institutes and centers are unlocking new research possibilities at the intersections between information, people, and technology. And unique experiential training programs and cutting-edge academic curriculum are preparing our students and university partners for in-demand, data-focused careers.
Environment
Situated in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, U of A is a living laboratory. Our researchers are mitigating the impacts of climate change and extreme heat, critical threats to agriculture and food production, and dwindling water and energy resources, all while developing solutions to feed a growing, global population that is fast approaching nine billion people. Our focus is resilience, the practice of designing environmental and social systems to anticipate and integrate with global change.
Health
U of A researchers are combining the power of interdisciplinary expertise with innovative technology to create new solutions for global health challenges. Our expansive health-related infrastructure includes bioscience, biomedicine, and wellness-focused centers and institutes, Arizona’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, and specialized facilities to support the development and commercialization of personalized prevention strategies, targeted treatments, and potential cures of complex diseases that impact our loved ones.
The Human Experience
U of A researchers explore the human experience through groundbreaking work encompassing subject areas as diverse as language and gender stereotypes and discovering what constitutes an effective apology. As an institution, initiatives like Leveraging Insights to Strengthen Regional Talent and Opportunities (LISTO), which increases opportunities for Hispanic students in STEM, enable us to prioritize the human experience and increase diversity across our faculty, staff, and student body.
National Security
National security initiatives at U of A focus on partnerships with defense, intelligence, and industry to advance research and develop the workforce of tomorrow. Through collaborative research and tech transfer, we are improving the agility and resiliency of U.S. national security, from helping predict and prevent cyberattacks to advancing military operations in space. U of A is home to two hypersonic facilities and wind tunnels that permit testing from Mach 0 to Mach 5.
Space
U of A has an unparalleled history of achievement in the space sciences anchored by Steward Observatory, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and the Arizona Space Institute. In addition to leading NASA’s first mission to collect and return a sample from the surface of an asteroid, our researchers are set to lead its $20 million Aspera mission to observe galaxy processes hidden from view until now. Our Space Act partnership with NASA allows for collaborative research and technology development related to human spaceflight and builds the student talent pipeline.
