Explore our work

Create the Change comprises a diverse array of projects that support our mission to develop a human sciences action and accountability framework. Explore our project list to see the areas where we are making a difference and creating tangible, impactful change.

Anthropocene

“Anthropocene” is a 90-minute immersive theatre performance by ASU’s School of Music, Dance and Theatre, combining storytelling, dance, media and sound to explore the climate crisis and excessive material consumption. The accompanying educational materials foster reflection, dialogue and action. Future plans will enhance national and international collaborations in environmental humanities and sustainability. Learn More

Young person hold a sign that says "Save the Planet",

Climate Community Hub

The Climate and Community Hub advances climate justice by centering Indigenous knowledge. The programming highlights cultural resilience and ecological practices, and includes public events at ASU’s West Campus guided by Community Fellows. Six workshops will integrate interdisciplinary academic research into community-rooted approaches. Learn more

Young people collaborating on a poster board that is on the table.

Community Science Leaders

This project provides a free, open-access toolkit and an interactive online workshop for educators, promoting youth-led climate action. Featuring a program guide, sample curriculum and curated resources, these resources help build educator confidence to support young community science leaders as they engage with contentious issues. The materials are accessible via the National Informal STEM Education Network.

Government building surrounded by lush green trees and grass.

Cultivating Civic Virtues

This project addresses ideological divides that simultaneously threaten democracy and planetary well-being. Featuring a spring keynote by Daryl Davis and two Constructive Dialogue Institute workshops for faculty and students, the project cultivates teamwork skills, moral courage and evidence-based practices. Participants are empowered to engage across differences and foster understanding in their communities. Spring Keynote!

Closeup of a rope tied in a knot.

Entanglement Collection

The Entanglement Collection develops pedagogical and facilitation materials to foster dialogue and highlight connections between planetary health and human wellbeing. Researchers are creating an ASU index to disseminate these resources via professional platforms, emphasizing participant and student engagement, tailored practices and community-building through workshops and shared problem-solving exercises. Learn More

Artist rendering of balancing the scale of justice between industry pollution and the natural environment.

Environmental Justice Oral History

This project explores environmental racism, inequality and social movement responses by creating 2–5 oral histories of environmental justice leaders in the United States; student trainees will refine interview transcripts for public release. The work will benefit communities, educators, researchers and the broader environmental justice movement by preserving voices and expanding collective understanding.

Stickers with environmental-themed inspirational sayings arranged on a white table.

Pep Rally for Trees

Pep Rally for Trees incorporates celebration into an arts-centered project that builds community trust around climate adaptation in Maryvale, Arizona. Partnering with Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response, it features a pep rally-style event that gathers local collaborators, teaching tree care and resilience while transforming planting into a shared ritual of play, care and connection.

Person wearing a white sports jacket and blue jeans, on a ladder, painting a skyline with a paint roller.

Re-imagining Workshop

Re-Imagining explores how collaborative imagination and storytelling can overcome cultural barriers to planetary health, advancing ASU’s Charter and the Global Futures mission. Through workshops, online learning resources and publications, these workshops foster imaginative capacity and futures thinking. Its self-assessment process measures the impact on behavioral change through curricula, public engagement and scalable tools.

Artistic rendering of a woman kneeling with her head bowed.

Rematriating Science

Rematriating Science revitalizes the Indigenous and feminist roots of science, emphasizing care, kinship and ecological stewardship. Phase 1 produced multi-sensory materials, showcasing women-led and Indigenous research in biodiversity and restoration. Phase 2 will co-create a traveling exhibit through participatory workshops that highlight intergenerational learning, collaborative problem-solving and integrated approaches to climate and conservation challenges.

Landscape of a South Pacific Island at sunset.

Restoring Moananuiākea

Restoring Moananuiākea engages 36 South Pacific communities to protect 15.5 million square miles of ocean, honoring ancestral connections and inspiring global reciprocity. Over three years, it will produce policy briefs, case studies, digital resources and an advocacy playbook while also building a 250+ member trans-Pacific network for community-led conservation and planetary health.

Graphic of an open book with forests in different seasons between the pages - winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Storying Just Futures

Storying Just Futures empowers emerging scholars and community leaders to advance environmental justice through shared curriculum, storytelling and futures literacy. Upcoming programs in 2026 will culminate in a final Convergence, held in collaboration with Local to Global and ESSA, where participants will share stories and research. The event will also establish a future collaboration network. Learn More

A map illustrating environmental and social inequities in Phoenix,

TierrArte

TierrArte is a community-centered, arts-based education and research project addressing environmental and social inequities and environmental risks in South and West Phoenix. Combining land (“tierra”) and art (“arte”), the program fosters dialogue, intergenerational collaboration, climate-resilient grassroots initiatives and creative, arts-inclusive problem-solving. The workshops will produce an archive of resources and an impact report. Learn More

A barista handing a patron a ceramic cup of coffee with latte art.

Waste Cooperative

The Waste Cooperative promotes a circular economy for small-business waste by fostering buy-in to a decentralized waste management model. Using surveys, willingness-to-pay analyses and dialogue panels, the program will assess current frustrations and alternatives, producing a variety of deliverables including an open-source toolkit, a guidebook, a policy report and a roadmap with Local First Arizona for implementation.