Changing the way the world solves problems

This series explores how ASU tackles complex problems to help transform entire systems for the better.

8 ways to protect wildlife

Plants and animals are facing an extinction crisis. While human activities may be the main cause, our actions can also be the solution. ASU researchers share how biodiversity weaves into our lives.

Navigating uncharted waters: ASU drives solutions for water resilience

As a unique test bed for transdisciplinary solutions, ASU is at the forefront of a new mission: to secure a thriving water future in Arizona and beyond.

silhouette of overheated woman in front of bright sun and photo of woman walking outside near greenery

Saving lives from an invisible killer

Count all the deaths from hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, and you still won’t match the destruction wrought by one invisible weather disaster — extreme heat.

Photo collage showing tomatoes being picked, on a fork and being thrown away into a landfill

The hidden cost of the American food system

Creating new and sustainable food systems that can support the world’s growing population is going to mean rethinking the fundamentals of farming.

Photo collage showing people conducting research, Sally Morton on top of

How innovation happens

What is the “strange mix” of ingredients” at ASU that is changing the way the world solves problems? Faculty, staff and students explain why ASU is a place where, “if you can dream it, you can do it.”

Outline of a man holding hands with a child on a background showing an oil spill and deforestation on the left, with green plants, solar panels and windmills on the right.

Clearing the air: How we can fix the CO2 problem and make our lives better

Earth has an elegant system for recycling carbon, but the Industrial Revolution threw it out of whack. What does it take to get things back in balance?

Collage of photos showing environmental research, clean energy systems and downtown Phoenix

The role of the university in changing the world

What does it really take to change the world? ASU leaders talk about what we need to do differently, and the role universities can and should play.

Cybersecurity awareness month

Each October, ASU’s Global Security Initiative celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month by sharing the biggest cybersecurity challenges, how ASU is working to address them and how individuals can stay safer online.

Headshots of three cybersecurity researchers

Meet 3 ASU cybersecurity researchers advancing a more secure future

Research from these faculty members in the Center for Cybersecurity and Trusted Foundations is paving the way for a more secure online existence.

An illustration of two people engaging in online cybersecurity education.

DEF CON Academy looks to serve, build community

New effort from ASU’s Global Security Initiative aims to upskill the hacker community at scale.

Monsters of Cybersecurity

The ‘monsters’ of cybersecurity — and how to slay them

In this Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Halloween monster mashup, ASU experts share some of the scariest threats in cyberspace — and how to fight them.

Adam Doupé

Cybersecurity threats that keep experts up at night

Adam Doupé, director of ASU’s Center for Cybersecurity and Trusted Foundations, discusses the importance of online vigilance, the time he fell for a phishing attack and the scariest cybersecurity “monsters.”

Image of two cybersecurity experts

7 things you should know about cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. How can you protect yourself online and what can we do about cybersecurity challenges? ASU experts give simple steps and advice this cyber awareness month.

Graphic about cybersecurity

Creating the future cybersecurity workforce

Cybersecurity is critical to national security, and ASU is filling the need through hands-on experience, innovative education and world-class research.

ASU KEDtalks

ASU KEDtalks are the bridge between your curiosity and what ASU researchers are exploiting and discovering. KEDtalks spark ideas, indulge curiosity and inspire action. They connect you to others like you – people who care and want to know more.

Charlie Rolsky

Swimming in plastic

There’s something in the water — plastic. An unfathomable amount of plastic has made its way into our oceans, but Charlie Rolsky believes we can make small changes in our lives to turn the tide of plastic pollution for a cleaner world and healthier ecosystems.

Aditi Chattopadhyay

Resilience in materials and in life

No stranger to resistance, Regents Professor Aditi Chattopadhyay has forged her own path in aerospace engineering to design resilient materials capable of withstanding the rigors of the world.

Nancy Cooke

Autonomy isn’t autonomous

Robots and artificial intelligence are growing more and more autonomous. But they still need to work smoothly with humans to be effective. ASU Professor Nancy Cooke explores how humans, robots and AI can best work together as a team.

Scott Ruston

How to defend against fake news

There’s an insidious threat that seeks to divide the nation and undermine our faith in democracy — disinformation. ASU researcher Scott Ruston offers tips on how to defend yourself.

Karen Anderson

A ‘living drug’ that beats cancer

Could unleashing the body’s immune system cure cancer? Karen Anderson reveals how a scientific breakthrough that empowers the body’s own cancer-killing T cells offers new hope.

Mark Naufel

Luminosity — where creative genius works

Mark Naufel launched Luminosity with moonshot ideas in mind. Now, interdisciplinary teams of students with bright ideas are designing, building and deploying innovations that positively impact society.

Melisa Crawford

What poop says about your health

For Meli’sa Crawford, talking about poop isn’t gross or impolite — it’s an important part of a day’s work. She studies poop to learn about the microbiome, or gut bacteria, and to understand how gut bacteria affect your health.

Duke Reiter

Preventing predictable disasters

The Interstate 10 spans the U.S. and offers a living laboratory for exploring the biggest issues of our time. Duke Reiter explains how ASU’s Ten Across (10X) initiative is using this transect to plan a resilient future.

Gaymon Bennett

Can innovation exist without soul work?

Is innovation always good? And is more always better? Not without “soul work,” says Gaymon Bennett. He explains what soul work, shadow and spirituality have to do with our fixation on innovation in a new KEDtalk format with bonus podcast.

Christy Till

A geologist’s grand jeté

ASU geologist Christy Till describes what it’s like to take the leap from dancer to scientist — and explores the hidden life of magma.

Paulo Shakarian

Staying ahead of cyberattacks

Paulo Shakarian tells us how mining the dark web can throw light on cybercriminals and thwart their impending attacks. He likens his research strategy to that of a soldier running reconnaissance on the enemy.

Craig Hardgrove

Hunting for hydrogen, a moonshot

Craig Hardgrove tells us how the first self-propelled, shoebox-sized spacecraft could reveal the whereabouts of water on the moon and what that means to Earthlings. He also explains why small spacecraft allow us to take bigger risks.

Arianne Cease

Plagued with questions

In many parts of the world, locust swarms devastate crops and communities. Arianne Cease is trying to change that.

Jessica Rajko

Democratizing digital design

Technology is not created to reflect the rich diversity of people that use it, says Jessica Rajko. She contends that adding more voices in the design process will create not only more inclusive tech experiences but better technology overall.

Chris Wharton

Change everything, all at once

By revealing what is hidden in plain sight, Chris Wharton illuminates a path to health, wealth, happiness and sustainability.

Michael Hanneman

Water, a pricing paradox

Water is cheap. It falls from the sky. But the infrastructure to store, transport and clean it is expensive. Michael Hanemann brings the true cost to the surface and explains why it’s going to get higher.

Amber Wutich

Building a true sharing economy

In our modern sharing economy, apps let us catch a ride or find a place to stay – for a price. Amber Wutich says we’ve lost something vital in commodifying what we used to share. Find out what we’re missing and how to get it back.

Klaus Lackner

Carbon is a terrible thing to waste

Like throwing trash into the street, each year we pump tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Klaus Lackner has developed technology poised to collect and reuse our carbon while cleaning the air.

Ariel Anbar

Designing Earth’s future

Ariel Anbar spent years studying our planet’s past. Then a simple question inspired him to consider our role in designing Earth’s future for the better.

Rolf Halden

What soap leaves behind

Some soaps leave a residue that reaches far beyond your shower door. Rolf Halden tells us about the unexpected consequences of our obsession with antimicrobials and where we go from here.

Clive Wynne

Why are dogs special?

Lots of people think dogs are unique in their intelligence. Clive Wynne, director of ASU’s Canine Science Collaboratory, says that’s not true. But he knows what makes dogs truly special.

Dave White

Charting a course for Colorado River water

We’ve portioned out more of the Colorado River’s water than it can deliver. How do we navigate the rapids of water management without capsizing under growing demand? Dave White of ASU’s Decision Center for a Desert City explains how to stay afloat.

Meenakshi Wadwa

Visitors from another world

Gazing at the night sky conjures deep questions about the universe. Meenakshi Wadhwa, professor at the School of Earth and Space Exploration and director of the Center for Meteorite Studies, invites us to look at the planetary ‘Rosetta stones’ right here on Earth that can give us answers.

Andrew Maynard

Risk is not just a four letter word

Most people don’t like talking about risk. Andrew Maynard of ASU’s Risk Innovation Lab does it for a living. Learn how he thinks we can all tackle risk challenges by framing them as values.

Jim Bell

Weekending on the moon

Is a weekend on the moon just around the corner? ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration Professor Jim Bell makes the case for why deep space is the new economic frontier and what that will mean for humanity.

Nadya Bliss

Solving the unsolvable problem

As director of ASU’s Global Security Initiative, Nadya Bliss is tackling seemingly-unsolvable “wicked” problems ranging from information security to the spread of infectious disease. She says we need to embrace complexity—not try to remove it out of fear of failure—if we are to face these challenges successfully.

Lindy Elkins Tanton

Journey to a metal world

ASU Professor Lindy Elkins-Tanton discusses what we can learn from her NASA mission to Psyche, and her unorthodox path to a career in space exploration.