The Santa Cruz River was once a beauty that connected the residents of Tucson to nature, but now is the biggest trash bin in the county. Sonoran Institute has recognized this and has dedicated their efforts to bring it back to its original beauty, hoping that this lost relationship will return as well. After joining the Earth Grant cohort, I began working with Luke Cole and Claire Zugmeyer from Sonoran Institute on their ongoing study of litter in the Santa Cruz River.

What is your major/year?

I am sophomore doing a dual degree in PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law) and EWRE (Environmental and Water Resource Economics).

Recently, a small group of Earth Grant and College of Architecture and Planning (CAPLA) students got the opportunity to go on a group hike up to Rock Spring in Saguaro National Park, East. This is a place where the saguaros, sacred plants to the Tohono O’odham tribe, grow big and tall. Many of us were amazed at the beautiful scenery of the area, often stopping along the trail to look out and admire the countless cacti, shrubs, and stones that the park protects.

The report assesses the impacts and risks of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity and human communities at global and regional levels.

“My father always encouraged my sister and I to be ‘global citizens,’” says Earth Grant student and Engineering sophomore Ani Melichar. Through Earth Grant, Ani is working with people from all over the world, by supporting the International Rescue Committee (IRC)’s New Roots program, an initiative to support recent refugees to Tucson in gardening, food production, nutrition, and generating revenue through farmers’ markets.

Tumamoc Hill looks out over a sprawling city ringed by desert and mountains, without a single, substantial body of water in sight.

So why does the hill have its own boathouse?

What is your major/year?

I am a senior double majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resource Management with an emphasis in Conservation Biology and a Marine Science minor. 

An international team has discovered hundreds of large bursts of methane from oil and gas production activities across the globe. The bursts account for 10% of global oil and gas methane emissions and are missing from most greenhouse gas emissions inventories.

Irrigation organizations play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in delivering water to farmers. But only one out of every five has an official strategy for responding to drought.

The Twitter famous saurologist and cofounder of Black AF in STEM is helping to build a more inclusive scientific community—and spotting some very sneaky lizards along the way.