Arizona Institute for Resilience

08/22/2026

Monsoon season is in full swing, and the AIR Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts is giving us a reason to pay even closer attention to the skies.

We’re highlighting some incredible monsoon photos captured by Zack Gudio, director of the AIR International Resilience Lab at The University of Arizona and lead of Monsoon Fantasy, showing just how much beauty Arizona’s summer storms can bring.

How is your Monsoon Fantasy season going so far? We want to see what you’re seeing. Share your favorite monsoon photos in the comments and show us your best storm views, clouds, rain, and sunsets.

All photos are taken by Zack Guido. Learn more about Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts: https://monsoonfantasy.arizona.edu?utm_campaign=Arizona+Institute+for+Resilience&utm_content=Monsoon+season+is+in+full&utm_medium=social&utm_publication=20260822&utm_source=facebook

08/21/2026

Join AIR’s Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill to learn about the snakes and other venomous reptiles found throughout the Sonoran Desert with Robert A. Villa, President of the Tucson Herpetological Society.

The event takes place tomorrow, August 22 from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Tumamoc Hill Historic Boathouse and is free and open to all.

Learn more and RSVP at https://air.arizona.edu/events/venomous-reptiles-tumamoc-hill-5

RSVP here: [email protected] Image When Next event: 7 – 8 a.m., Aug. 22, 2026 eventAdd to Calendar Add Event to Calendar Venomous Reptiles of Tumamoc Hill Next event: 7 – 8 a.m., Aug. 22, 2026 Select your calendar type below: Google iCal File Outlook Enterprise (Office 365) Outlook Person...

08/21/2026

New research suggests that artificial light at night may be doing more than brightening our cities. It could also be making seasonal allergies worse.

The study found that plants exposed to more nighttime light often produce pollen earlier in the spring and continue later into the fall, extending the pollen season and increasing the number of days people are exposed to allergens.

The article features insights from Brian Enquist, a researcher with the Lovejoy Center at AIR and Professor in the University of Arizona College of Science, who explains that urban ecosystems are influenced by many factors, including plant species, water availability, and city design. His perspective highlights the importance of understanding how the built environment shapes both ecosystem function and human health.

Read more: https://air.arizona.edu/news/artificial-night-lighting-linked-seasonal-allergies

08/19/2026

Join AIR for our Fall Fest 2026 symposium and celebration!

Join the Arizona Institute for Resilience for Fall Fest on Wednesday, September 9 at 2pm at ENR2 S107 for an opportunity to connect with the AIR community and celebrate the research, people, and partnerships advancing resilience at The University of Arizona and across Arizona.

The event will bring together students, faculty, researchers, and community members for an afternoon focused on connection, conversation, and the work shaping a more resilient future.

Learn more and register: https://events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/fall-fest-2026-5a3UV434Awj/overview?utm_campaign=Arizona+Institute+for+Resilience&utm_content=Join+AIR+for+our+Fall+Fes&utm_medium=social&utm_publication=20260819&utm_source=facebook

08/18/2026

Extreme heat is testing every city. Is yours prepared?

Heat resilience requires more than emergency response. It takes planning, collaboration, and action before temperatures rise.

In a new Smart Cities Dive interview, Ladd Keith, director of the Heat Resilience Initiative at AIR and associate research professor at Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and UA College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, outlines three priorities for cities: strengthen coordination, develop heat action plans, and build partnerships that turn strategy into action.

Read the full interview:

Better governance, stronger partnerships and a solid action plan are key to protecting residents from soaring temperatures, this heat resilience expert says.

08/18/2026

Read Ladd Keith’s superhero origin story.... 🦸‍♂️🌎☀️

Keith - associate professor in the UA College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture; associate research professor at the Udall Center; and Director of the U of A Heat Resilience Initiative at the Arizona Institute for Resilience - was highlighted in the U of A Alumni Magazine Summer 2026 story "Tucson Grown," showing how his research on heat planning, policy, and governance came to be after growing up in Southern Arizona.

Keith, a three-time graduate from the University of Arizona, reflected on how a trip to Japan changed his career trajectory, as well as his time working with local governments in his home state and helping shape international approaches to extreme heat. His work demonstrates how U of A research is making communities safer and more resilient in a warming world.

🔗 Read the full Arizona Alumni Magazine feature to learn more about Ladd Keith's work and its global impact at the link below!

https://alumni.arizona.edu/arizona-magazine/summer-2026/tucson-grown

08/17/2026

Join AIR's Lovejoy Center for the Lovejoy Welcome Mixer on Thursday, August 20 at 1pm as we celebrate the launch of the Tom Lovejoy Conservation Fellowship and welcome a new generation of conservation leaders.

Named in honor of renowned conservation biologist Thomas Lovejoy, the fellowship reflects his belief in the power of science, collaboration, and optimism to advance biodiversity conservation.

Come connect with students, researchers, and conservation professionals, learn more about the Lovejoy Center, and celebrate the people working to protect our planet’s biodiversity.

Register here: https://events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/lovejoy-welcome-mixer-5a3UV42prnV/overview

08/16/2026

What’s shaping Arizona’s future?

Arizona Environment within AIR brings the latest environmental research, stories, events and insights from across The University of Arizona straight to your inbox through The Dirt.

From extreme heat and water resilience to the people and research shaping a more resilient Arizona, The Dirt keeps you connected to the work happening across our communities.

This edition highlights Sprouts House, the new program hub for the School Garden Workshop, providing a space for students of all ages to participate in culinary education, social-emotional learning, food literacy, and more. Tour the Sprouts House here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=g6YuGfTJW36C1Nfv&t=52&v=a7sPE9Lb9xs&feature=youtu.be

Subscribe to The Dirt and stay connected here: https://trellis.tfaforms.net/72?tfa_4=7016R000001ZLiY

08/15/2026

Want to know what’s happening at one of Arizona’s most unique research and learning sites?

Subscribe to the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill newsletter for monthly updates on upcoming events, research, stories and opportunities from Tumamoc Hill and the Arizona Institute for Resilience at The University of Arizona.

Sign up and stay in the loop: https://bit.ly/4xEaet7.

08/14/2026

Extreme heat is the deadliest weather related hazard in the United States, yet it still receives far less attention than floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. What would it look like if we planned for heat with the same urgency?

In this conversation with Campus Insights Media, Ladd Keith, director of the Heat Resilience Initiative within AIR, explores why communities need to move beyond reacting to extreme heat and start building long term resilience. He discusses the growing field of heat governance, the role of city planning and public policy, and why preparing for hotter futures requires coordinated action across every level of government.

As temperatures continue to rise, the conversation shifts from whether communities will face extreme heat to how well they'll be prepared for it.

Watch the full interview:

Ladd Keith is an associate professor in the University of Arizona School of Landscape Architecture and Planning and director of the Heat Resilience Initiative. In this interview, Keith describes this…