News

In this episode, the Sonoran Center’s Jacy Farkas and Celina Urquidez discuss the scope of the DISCAPAZ project, the progress that’s been made so far, and what’s in store for the project’s future.

Through original music, choreographed movement and projected interstellar imagery, StellarScape explores cosmic and stellar processes with scientific accuracy and creative depth. The project serves as the foundation of the Scape series and demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can bridge the arts and sciences, fostering innovation, education and public engagement.

Tadeusz “TJ” Borowski, an undergraduate researcher with the AI in Healthcare Simulation and Training VIP team, is featured in the Fall 2025 Alumni Magazine story “Embracing the Detours.”

University of Arizona professor Greg Barron-Gafford and his SALSA agrivoltaics team overcame a major funding loss when the Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation stepped in to support their work.

Aurora Seekins ’25, a member of the AIDE Lab, is featured in the Fall 2025 Arizona Alumni Magazine story “Bearing It Together.” The article shares her journey from foster care to independence and college success, highlighting the support she found through the Fostering Success program.

Dr. Scott Saleska, a professor at the University of Arizona, has been elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his pioneering research on how ecosystems from Amazon forests to Arctic peatlands affect the Earth’s climate. The honor recognizes his innovative methods, leadership in mentoring, and contributions to addressing global environmental challenges.

Dr. Janelle Lamoreaux, associate professor and associate director of the School of Anthropology, leads the Collaborative Anthropology for Reproduction and the Environment (CARE) Lab, where she and her students explore how climate change, politics, and ecology shape reproductive decision-making. A sociocultural anthropologist, Lamoreaux combines insights from medical anthropology, environmental humanities, and the social studies of science

Purchase tickets online or arrive early to avoid disappointment! EarthScape traces history, from the birth of our sun to the present moment–exploring geology, life’s origins, the rise of the Anthropocene, climate evolution, and crisis. Engaging audiences in the unique and delicate nature of our planet, EarthScape is a call for responsible stewardship, as humanity and technology continue to transform.

For her important contributions to Earth and space science, Dr. Laura Condon, a professor at the University of Arizona, will be honored with the 2025 James B. Macelwane Medal. She is known for studying the relationship between groundwater and surface water and how it affects climate and water use.

Dr. Diana Daly is an associate professor of practice in the College of Information Science and the associate dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Student Success. Dr. Daly is a fellow of the Center for University Education and Scholarship (CUES) and an award-winning educator.

Among the academics who spoke at the event were Professor Bryan Carter on the impact of artificial intelligence on research and Professor Paul Arthur on digital depictions of migration and slavery. It ended with workshops on AI applications in various fields and a panel discussion with Prof. Janelize Morelli emphasizing the value of digital humanities for sustainable futures.

Scott Saleska and the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) team at Biosphere 2 are exploring how life establishes itself on barren landscapes. In a new article for The Conversation, Dr. Saleska shares how this research not only informs ecosystem restoration and biodiversity on Earth but also provides insights for making Mars habitable in the future.

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a 25-foot solar drying tower to combat food waste and reduce emissions. Through their startup Kuairu, co-founded by Professor Goggy Davidowitz and supported by Tech Launch Arizona, the system dries fruits and vegetables in hours instead of days with zero carbon footprint.

The University of Arizona’s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program coordinator Dr. Kay Orzech has been invited to speak on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:00 ET, as part of a nationally-publicized Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) webinar.

The University of Arizona’s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program is highlighting Dr. Kevin M. Fitzsimmons, Professor and Team Lead for the MISAS: Modular Integrated Sustainable Agricultural Systems project, for his lifelong contributions to aquaculture. According to Dr. Fitzsimmons, aquaculture has shifted from reliance on fishmeal toward sustainable, innovative feeds. His leadership in the F3 Challenge is helping accelerate the adoption of plant-based, microbial, and insect-derived proteins across the industry.

VIP Team leader Dr. Salma Patel gives the inside scoop! Wearables and smart sleep devices—such as watches, rings, mats, and smart beds—track things like sleep time, patterns, movement, heart rate, and sometimes oxygen levels. They can help raise awareness of sleep habits and encourage healthier routines, but their accuracy is limited since they rely on algorithms rather than medical testing. While some devices may flag signs such as oxygen drops, snoring, or restlessness, only a medical sleep study can confirm a disorder.

Bryan Carter, Director of the Center for Digital Humanities, has been working on Project CAN, a $3 million initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, for two years. The project has expanded understanding of HSI-related funding and has the potential to benefit Southern Arizona communities. The initiative has enabled community centers to upgrade broadband, install computer labs, and design digital programming.

Six teams of University of Arizona experts, including several VIP Team Leads or Executive Committee members (Dr. Scott Saleska, Dr. Cristian Roman Palacios, Dr. Ken McAllister) were chosen as the 2025 Big Idea Challenge awardees for their proposals to accelerate transdisciplinary projects that could transform lives, shape policy, drive economic impact, and provide training for the next generation of talent.

This initiative aims to study the requirement for a bioregenerative life support system that can recycle waste materials, water, nutrients, and air. NASA is investigating technologies such as developing planting substrate in space and controlled environment agricultural systems. A range of crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens, must be produced by space agriculture systems.

Though startup costs remain high, farms like Jack’s Solar Garden show this method can save water, grow tastier produce, and generate clean energy all at once.