News

In a recent article on Southwest farming resilience, Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford, faculty head of the Agrivoltaics VIP team, described how incorporating solar panels with Indigenous shade-based planting strategies might increase crop survival during the region's megadrought. His study shows how modern agrivoltaics technology and traditional knowledge can work together to preserve soil moisture, promote plant health, and provide sustainable energy.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are using tree-ring science to better understand the severity and duration of drought across the American West. At the university’s Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research in Tucson, scientists and students analyze tree coressometimes called “tree cookies” to reconstruct climate conditions stretching back centuries.

In honor of his leadership and contributions to the optics community, Dr. Travis Sawyer, faculty head of the Optical Imaging to Advance Healthcare and Biomedicine VIP team, has been named a 2026 Optica Ambassador. Dr. Sawyer, a biomedical imaging researcher, will continue to advance cutting-edge imaging technology while mentoring students and early-career professionals in his new Ambassador role.

Through hands-on research, innovation and collaboration, the Coral Reef Resilience VIP team is helping position Biosphere 2 as a global hub for testing real solutions not just studying the problem. Their work represents an important step toward protecting coral ecosystems and training the next generation of scientists dedicated to reef conservation.

Farmers can now grow more food under solar panels thanks to agrivoltaics. Research led by the VIP team Agrivoltaics shows crops like peppers, tomatoes, and leafy greens yield more, use less water, and are protected from extreme weather. At the same time, solar panels generate clean energy turning farmland into a win-win for food and power.

Dr. Martha Bhattacharya, who leads the Brain Communication Networks team, and Dr. Laura Condon, who leads the Water Whys team, present their research in the Arizona College of Science Lecture Series—showcasing their research within VIP, spanning from fruit fly brain communication to human understanding in the age of AI.

Coral Reef Resilience VIP Team leader Dr. Diane Thompson and a team of scuba divers installed young coral in the Biosphere 2 Ocean habitat on February 4th. In addition to Thompson, six others spoke at this landmark event.

Vertically Integrated Projects is proud to highlight the work of Denise, a student contributor to the Biosphere 2 digital twin project. Working with team lead Ash, Denise has been developing a high-fidelity, interactive model of Biosphere 2 in Unreal Engine 5, combining 3D modeling, photogrammetry, and real-world data capture.

Youtube personality MrBeast makes a visit to the Biosphere 2! Biosphere Wonder Studio Team Lead Aaron Bugaj got to show MrBeast and his crew around our amazing Arizona laboratory of "future technology".

Dr. Tfaily of Microbial Metabolome of Diverse Ecosystems was recently awarded funding with Estelle Couradeau, assistant professor of soils and environmental microbiology in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

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 was one of the faculty among the 16 Faculty Members to Receive SBS Faculty Awards
She 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.