Arizona
List of Sustainability-Focused Extension Programs
Program: Externships in Community Sustainability
Category: Food, Water
Range: Arizona statewide
Description: University students are paired with Extension faculty throughout the state to work on summer-long projects that improve community resiliency, such as community garden and farmers market start-ups, integrated pest management research, and rainwater harvesting to note a few.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings
Program: The Kitchen Garden
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Food
Range: Pima County
Description: The Garden Kitchen is a seed-to-table nutrition education program which aims to engage low-income community members in healthy eating, gardening, and active living education. We work with our community to improve the food environment by educating on every step of bringing a healthy meal to the table. We value respect, equity, and sustainability in all of our programs.
Program: Climate Science Applications Program
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Air Quality/ Climate Change, Food, Water
Range: Arizona statewide
Description: CSAP is a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension program focused on bringing climate science research and applications to the people of the state of Arizona and the broader Southwest region including New Mexico, southern California, and northern Mexico. The program works to develop and coordinate outreach activities and applied research between the climate research community at the University of Arizona and a wide group of climate science user groups throughout the Southwest. This includes providing support and working through Cooperative Extension offices throughout Arizona. Partnerships with federal agencies down to individual climate science users are forged to improve the production and delivery of climate information. Research activities within CSAP include new climate product development tailored to specific user group needs and exploration into novel climate data visualization, dissemination, and analysis techniques and tools.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Website, Information, Online tools
Program: Turfgrass Research, Extension, and Education
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Land, Air Quality/Climate Change, Water
Range: Arizona statewide
Description: Turfgrass research is conducted to evaluate and determine appropriate grasses for use in desert landscapes and sports facilities under limited quantities and qualities of water. Practices are evaluated, validated, and new technologies are transferred to professional turf managers and landscapers.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Website, Information, Certification
Program: Arizona’s Changing Rural Landscapes
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Land, Air Quality/Climate Change, Food, Water, Energy
Range: Arizona statewide
Description: Arizona Cooperative Extension’s community and economic development programs help residents, landowners and governments understand changes in the state’s rural areas. The goal is to help citizens define and contribute to the future of their communities, and become better informed, more resilient and sustainable.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Website, Information
Program: Water RAPIDS (Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems)
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Water
Range: Arizona statewide
Description: The goal of Water RAPIDS (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems) program is to help communities balance a secure water future for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors with the water needs of natural areas.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Website, Information, Certification, and assistance to communities and land and water managers in water planning and research on effective mechanism of engagement on water issues.
Program: Water Wise
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Water
Range: Cochise County
Description: The Water Wise Program educates homeowners and businesses on the latest and greatest water conservation tools through workshops, presentations, social-media, and consultations. Since 1995, Water Wise has worked to reduce groundwater pumping in the Sierra Vista Sub-watershed of Cochise County.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Website, Information
Program: Smartscape
Institution: University of Arizona
Category: Land, Water
Range: Maricopa and Pima counties
Description: Smartscape is a comprehensive, research‐based, professional training program specifically designed to assist landscape professionals in the design, installation, and maintenance of attractive, water-efficient landscapes that offer a unique sense of place and value to communities.
Program Offerings: Face-to-face trainings, Certification
