Arizona Institute for Resilience

10/09/2026

Have a research story to tell? Learn how to take it beyond academia.

Join the Arizona Institute for Resilience for the October 14th CAMBIUM-Lovejoy Center Professional Development Series session, “Meet Planet Forward: Publishing Your Science Story.”

Learn how to communicate your research in ways that connect with broader audiences and explore opportunities to publish your science story.

October 14 | 1:30–3 p.m. | ENR2 S215

Register now and start turning your research into a story that reaches beyond the lab:

Image When Next event: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Oct. 14, 2026 eventAdd to Calendar Add Event to Calendar CAMBIUM-Lovejoy Professional Development Series Next event: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Oct. 14, 2026 Select your calendar type below: Google iCal File Outlook Enterprise (Office 365) Outlook Personal (outlook.com)...

10/07/2026

Stay connected with the latest work from the University of Arizona Indigenous Resilience Center within AIR.

The IRes Newsletter brings together updates and opportunities from across the center, including:

• Indigenous-led research and community partnerships
• Native Voices in STEM seminars and upcoming events
• Educational resources and new publications
• Stories highlighting Indigenous communities, resilience and environmental health
• Library book recommendations and resources
• Grants, funding opportunities and other ways to get involved

Whether you’re interested in Indigenous resilience, research, community engagement, environmental health or opportunities to connect, the IRes Newsletter is a great way to stay informed.

Subscribe and have the latest IRes news, resources and opportunities delivered straight to your inbox: https://resilience.arizona.edu/newsletter

10/05/2026

What do farmers in rural Kenya see as the biggest threat to their agricultural livelihoods as their communities grow?

A new study in Population and Environment, coauthored by Zack Guido, Director of AIR’s International Resilience Lab and Associate Research Scientist at the Arizona Institute for Resilience, explores how smallholder farmers perceive population growth and its impacts on agriculture in Central Kenya.

Surveying nearly 500 farmers, the researchers found that 96% perceived population growth in their area, while 57% viewed it as a threat to their agricultural livelihoods. Interestingly, concerns centered more on land shortages than water, offering important insight into how communities understand and respond to environmental pressures.

The findings highlight the importance of understanding how people experience environmental change and what shapes their perceptions of resilience, adaptation, and sustainability.

Congratulations to Zack and the research team on this important contribution!

Read the publication: https://air.arizona.edu/publication/population-growth-threat-agriculture-perceptions-rural-kenya

Reference Lopus, Sara, et al. “Is Population Growth a Threat to Agriculture? Perceptions in Rural Kenya”. Population and Environment, vol. 48, Aug. 2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-026-00532-y. Abstract Perceptions of population growth and its potential threats to water security could prompt...

10/04/2026

The application for the first ever DESERT PFAS Student Grand Challenge with AIR's Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy has been extended.

Junior, senior, and graduate students at The University of Arizona are invited to work with faculty, professional mentors, and community partners to tackle real world challenges related to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Sonoran Desert.

Selected students will gain professional experience and mentorship while working on projects with partners including Haley & Aldrich, Tucson Water, City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Department, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Each student will also receive a $1,000 award upon completion.

Applications are due Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Learn more and apply: https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/student-challenge

Image The DESERT-PFAS Student Grand ChallengeAn opportunity for junior, senior, and graduate students at U of A to solve real-world challenges related to PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and sustainability in Arizona while greatly advancing your professional preparation & networks. DEADLINE EXTENDED!...

10/03/2026

The Arizona Institute for Resilience at The University of Arizona is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a one year research position studying the plant genus Sansevieria.

The position will involve analyzing whole genome sh***un data to characterize features of Sansevieria, with research based in the Sonoran Desert.

Interested in applying? Learn more about the position and apply here: https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/27038?c=arizona

Questions? Contact Elise Gornish, director of the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, at [email protected].

10/02/2026

What can traditional agriculture teach us about health, resilience, and community?

The University of Arizona professor in University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources and the Environment SNRE, University of Arizona Indigenous Resilience Center within AIR and Hopi dry farmer Michael Kotutwa Johnson is working to address health and economic disparities facing Arizona’s tribal communities through Indigenous agriculture and traditional Hopi dry farming.

His work connects food systems, cultural knowledge, environmental resilience, and community health, while creating opportunities for tribes to strengthen access to healthy, culturally meaningful food.

Read the Tucson Spotlight story to learn more about Johnson’s work and the role Indigenous agriculture can play in building healthier, more resilient communities:

University of Arizona professor and Hopi dry farmer Michael Kotutwa Johnson is working to close health and economic gaps facing Arizona's tribal communities.

10/01/2026

Weather shapes water. Water shapes resilience.

Understanding how weather and climate patterns influence water resources across days, seasons, and decades is essential for informed decision-making in the Southwest.

Join AIR and researchers from multiple universities at the Southwestern U.S. Weather & Water Resilience Across Timescales workshop to explore the latest research and perspectives from experts across the field.

Register today: https://air.arizona.edu/events/southwestern-us-weather-water-resilience-across-timescales

Image When All Day, Nov. 18 – 19, 2026 eventAdd to Calendar Add Event to Calendar Southwestern U.S. Weather & Water Resilience Across Timescales All Day, Nov. 18 – 19, 2026 Select your calendar type below: Google iCal File Outlook Enterprise (Office 365) Outlook Personal (outlook.com) Yahoo! Whe...

09/30/2026

El Niño is shaping up to be an important climate signal for the Southwest this year.

A new resource from the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) within AIR breaks down what El Niño 2026–27 could mean for Arizona and New Mexico, from increased opportunities for winter precipitation to the potential for heavy precipitation, localized flooding, and changes in wildfire risk.

El Niño generally tilts the odds toward a wetter cool season across the Southwest, particularly in southern portions of the region, but it does not guarantee a wet winter. The location and persistence of storm systems will ultimately determine where precipitation falls and how much the region receives.

The new webpage brings together key information on El Niño, potential impacts on water resources and health, and what communities across the Southwest can watch for as the season unfolds.

Explore CLIMAS’ new El Niño 2026–27 resource to learn more about what this climate pattern could mean for the Southwest:

El Niño 2026-27 and the Southwest U.S. What is El Niño? Source: https://www.climate.gov/enso   El Niño is a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that can alter weather patterns worldwide. During El Niño winters, changes in tropical rainfall and atmospheric circulation often strengthe...

09/29/2026

Sharing on behalf of our colleagues at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research in The University of Arizona:

Join Dr. Kelly Hereid, Head of Catastrophe Research at Liberty Mutual Insurance, for a talk on the use and misuse of climate and environmental data in insurance and climate risk analytics.

This will take place this Wednesday, September 30 at 12 p.m. in ENR2 S107.

Dr. Hereid brings a unique perspective from her background in coral paleoclimatology and climate risk analytics. All are welcome to attend.

09/29/2026

Europe’s wildfires are uncovering more than scorched landscapes.

As extreme heat and drought reshape the region, wildfires are exposing unexploded bombs and mines left behind from past wars, creating a surprising connection between climate change, conflict and community safety.

Christina Greene, a researcher with The University of Arizona’s Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR) and CLIMAS, brings expertise in the intersection of climate, conflict and humanitarian mine action. Her work helps us understand how today’s climate hazards can interact with risks that have been buried for generations.

Read the full story from AP News Guild:

The wildfires burning across Europe this summer have exposed a potentially deadly threat lurking beneath the blackened landscape: rusty bombs and mines from World War I and II.