Education

The Campus Agricultural Center is a 160 acre farm right in the middle of Tucson that operates as a research and teaching facility for the University of Arizona’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It includes extensive pasture land for its horses, cows, and sheep, which are affectionately cared for by a team of veterinarians and staff. The animals, often referred to as “pasture professors,” are able to give veterinary students invaluable hands-on experience working with large agricultural animals, something not many other programs are able to offer.

Fictional storytelling is an important and pervasive part of how human cultures transmit knowledge and values across generations. But there are many philosophical questions that arise from this human act of fiction-making. For instance, what does it mean for a work of fiction — that is, a made-up story — to say something about what’s true? Hannah H. Kim, a professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona, argues that by examining questions like this, philosophy of fiction can help us better navigate a media landscape rife with misinformation, bots, and propaganda — and in doing so, teach us something about what it means to live a good life.

The University of Arizona Sky School is an innovative educational program for students of all ages that integrates a wide variety of science and engineering disciples while fostering a deep connection to nature and a sense of place. Students travel up to the summit of Mt. Lemmon in the majestic Catalina Mountains and spend 1-3 nights doing field work around Steward Observatory’s Sky Center. While there, they can peer through telescopes, take tree core samples, and learn all about the ecosystems that surround them.

Every Fall more than 1.000 students in grades 4-8 descend upon Pima Community College for the Arizona STEM Adventure, an educational extravaganza into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math. The event is hosted by the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF) and aims to motivate students to pursue careers in science and technology.

Twice a year, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association opens up their exclusive Chiricahua Astronomy Complex to the public for an “evening under the stars” – a remarkable opportunity for the local community to get a look at the night sky in detail they may never have seen before. The complex sits within a designated Dark Sky area, where the band of the Milky Way shimmers as it parades across the sky, inspiring wows and wonders from star gazers.

The University of Arizona’s College of Applied Science & Technology (CAST) is the primary department centered at the UA extension campus in Sierra Vista, AZ. The college focuses on training the future workforce to be adaptable to the “4th Industrial Revolution,” or the convergence of human and machine teaming - which involves robotics, VR, and AR human integration. It also runs one of the nation’s top - if not the top - cyber intelligence operations programs through the Cyber Convergence Center, which partners with the local military community at Fort Huachuca to train the next generation of cyber professionals. The college also partners with the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce and is an economic driver within the community and keeps Sierra Vista growing.

Ever notice that many of your garden plants grow better in the shade than in the direct sun? It’s true, they often do – especially in hot places like the desert of Arizona. Researchers at the University of Arizona have noticed it too, and they’re busy developing the technology to harness it. It’s called “agrivoltaics” (derived from the words ‘agriculture’ and ‘photovoltaics’), and involves growing food in the shade of solar panels. Not only does this simple concept increase crop yield while using less water, but it also improves solar panel efficiency. It sounds like magic, but it’s ecology! Agrivoltaics is now being tested throughout the region, including at Biosphere 2 and at Manzo Elementary School in Tucson, where it’s also being used as an educational tool for kids.

Think chemistry is boring? Think again! A class with University of Arizona Chemistry instructor, Colleen Kelley, is filled with colorful characters and exciting storylines that translate complex chemistry into comic books. Yes — comic books. About chemistry. Her comics and unique imagination have turned the periodic table into a playground of chemical adventure, and have allowed elementary school students to master concepts often taught at the college level.

Traditionally, it’s been difficult for visually-impaired students to learn about aerospace engineering because understanding the mechanics of machine parts often requires being able to see how they move. But Dr. Kavan Hazeli, Associate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, hopes to change that. He is using cutting-edge robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality technologies to develop advanced educational tools that rely more on touch and sound. Together with roboticist and former pupil Sahand Sabet, Hazeli is testing prototypes of these educational tools with students from the Arizona State School of the Deaf and the Blind.

As a viola professor with a background in neuroscience, Molly Gebrian balances on the nexus between art and science. Her unique insight into how the brain works has allowed her to develop innovative educational tools that elevate her students in the practice room, and in life.

The University of Arizona’s Community & School Garden program is an innovative educational platform that transforms gardens into STEM learning labs, connecting students and citizen scientists with Tucson’s 4,000-year agricultural legacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has become a leader in how to adapt to distant learning models, focusing on outdoor engagement and even producing YouTube field trips with charismatic hosts. The program is a sterling example of how gardens do more than just grow food; they can grow brains too.

A towering canopy of evergreen trees and a lush forest floor dripping with an almost continuous rainfall…just north of Tucson. Come visit the iconic Biosphere 2 and take a closer look at its rainforest biome and the research being performed there.