How to change the world

Feature stories

Silhouette of woman with outstretched arms in front of a sunset over the ocean.

A world full of plastic (not fantastic)

People dump a garbage truck’s worth of plastic into the ocean every single minute. ASU faculty, staff and community partners are creating solutions to reduce plastic waste from factory to trash can.

A woman with her face in her hands and chaotic chalkboard scribbles surrounding her

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.

Postdoc researcher Mohamed El Mistiri poses with professors Anthony Waas and Daniel E. Rivera while holding his Outstanding Graduate Accomplishment Award.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

The role of the university

ASU ranks No. 1 in the U.S. and top 10 in the world for advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Universities have an important role to play in solving complex global challenges.

Did you know?

The U.S. electricity sector reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2005–2020, due to increased use of renewables.

Learn more about decarbonization

We could reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint by 90% if we replace synthetic pesticides and fertilizers with natural substances.

Learn more about food systems

ASU research led to a new Arizona law that gives mobile-home dwellers the right to install AC units and other cooling measures.

Learn more about heat

In the last 20 years, central Arizona experienced a 45% increase in population but only a 14% increase in municipal water demand, thanks to conservation efforts.

Learn more about water

Scientists have discovered around 1.8 million species of life. ASU researchers are leading an effort to sequence the DNA of every single one by 2028.

Learn more about biodiversity

ASU transitioned all of its graduation booklets to a digital format in 2024, keeping roughly 2,000 booklets per commencement out of the landfill.

Learn more about waste

How can I make a difference?

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