University of Arizona (HOST)

The University of Arizona (UArizona) is the SW CASC host institution, and the state’s land grant institution. UArizona is a national leader in climate and environmental science, co-production of science and policy research, engagement, and outreach and climate adaptation science, planning and implementation. The SW CASC is housed within the Arizona Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies (AIRES) at UArizona, which has over 300 affiliated faculty and houses many long-term initiatives with experience in co-production of actionable science. 

UArizona SW CASC co-PI Alison Meadow and DRI co-PI Tamara Wall are evaluating SW CASC projects using a framework they developed for the evaluation of collaboratively produced climate science that specifically addresses the process of producing outcomes of actionable science. Additionally, Meadow is engaged with other SW CASC co-PIs and affiliated researchers to develop a publication focused on how Indigenous communities in the Southwest are using a climate justice approach for their work on climate change adaptation. UArizona PI Gregg Garfin (also SW CASC University Director) is collaborating with other SW CASC co-PIs and affiliated researchers on the Southwest Integrated Climate Change Project, and the Recent Warming Initiative (see Collaborative Initiatives page).