ASU and Conservation International

Collaboration for a thriving planet

Arizona State University, through its Global Futures Laboratory, and Conservation International are partnering to harness each institution’s strengths to design and shape a future in which Earth will thrive.

All too often, a lack of collaboration between researchers and practitioners inhibits the valuable research from world-renowned academic institutions from informing work in the field. Together, Conservation International and ASU will generate research on critical environmental issues to inform impactful global policy and practice.

Partnering to drive new research

The partnership between ASU and Conservation International launched in September 2016 with the hire of six ASU-CI Professors of Practice. The partnership has since evolved to align with the ASU Global Future Laboratory and its mission to design implementable options to sustain global habitability and improve well-being for all humankind. This renewed partnership will focus on two initial areas:

  1. Negative Emissions
    Scientists will explore the link between nature-based and engineering solutions to mitigate carbon.
  2. Oceans
    A collaborative research and education agenda on conserving global marine resources.

Additional shared areas of interest include indigenous knowledge systems and effective decision science for global sustainability.

Joint appointments

An expert cohort of joint research professors and fellows bring applied conservation expertise from Conservation International into ASU’s world-class university system, providing a platform for collaborative applied research and inquiry between the two institutions. In addition to conducting research on the primary topic areas, each scientist will lecture at ASU throughout their tenure on critical conservation topics to train the next generation of conservation leaders.

Current cohort

Jack Kittinger
ASU-CI Research Professor

Katie Cramer
ASU-CI Assistant Research Professor

ASU and Conservation International in the news

You will return home: A Thought Leader Series Piece
Former ASU-CI Professor of Practice and current ASU-CI Research Professor Jack Kittinger speaks to the importance of conservation.

ASU, CI and Postdam researchers explore future of Alto Mayo, Peru
In May 2019, ASU faculty and students partnered with CI Peru to explore conservation approaches with local stakeholders.

Conservation International partners with ASU’s Decision Theater on innovative tool
In December 2018, ASU Decision Theater and CI collaborated on a decision tool designed to help decision-makers understand the costs and benefits associated with land degradation policy interventions.

ASU student leaves the classroom with Conservation International
In August 2018, an ASU student worked on the ground with CI Peru.

ASU, Conservation International team up to protect biodiversity
The original announcement of the ASU-CI Professor of Practice program in March 2017.