ASU receives innovation honor

Named an an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University for its strong commitment to economic engagement

July 18, 2016

In recognition of its strong commitment to economic engagement, Arizona State University has been designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

The designation recognizes public research universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development. Download Full Image

“At ASU, we believe that university research and innovation should serve as an engine for economic growth and societal benefit,” said Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. “Being recognized as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by APLU is a testimony to the efforts by our faculty, staff and students to advance ASU as an intellectually vibrant environment focused on outcomes.”

ASU received the designation after an independent panel reviewed the school’s application, which included a 360-degree review and analysis of its economic engagement activities that were conducted with internal and external stakeholder input. It is one of 54 public schools in North America to be designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University and now qualifies to compete with other North American public universities for APLU’s 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Awards.

“It is central to our mission to devote the university’s talent and resources to revitalize and advance the region’s economy,” said Todd Hardy, senior economic development advisor at ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development. “Inclusion on this list of Innovation and Economic Prosperity universities will only strengthen our ability to advance the social, economic, cultural and overall wellbeing of the communities we serve.”

Focused on developing a robust and diverse workforce for the state of Arizona for sustainable economic growth, the university has doubled the number of degrees awarded to minority students since 2005. It is also providing aspiring college students in Arizona and beyond a direct pathway to college through innovative programs, including the Starbucks College Achievement Plan and the Global Freshman Academy.

ASU is providing aspiring college students in Arizona and beyond a direct pathway to college through innovative programs, including the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.

The development of SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, has been responsible for the creation of 1,500 jobs and an economic output of more than $588 million to the Greater Phoenix economy. SkySong’s economic impact is estimated to grow to $32 billion in the next 30 years.

Photo by Mark Boisclair

Since 2003 as part of a transformative partnership, ASU and Mayo Clinic have formed a joint nursing education program; joint faculty appointments; dual degree programs; internships and collaborative research projects in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cellular and molecular biomedicine, vaccine development, genetics and sensory motor coordination.

ASU has developed key regional economic development partnerships with the City of Phoenix for its Downtown Phoenix campus.

Photo by Deanna Dent

ASU reopened the former Williams Airfare Base, which closed in 1993, in 1996 as ASU East. Currently known as the ASU Polytechnic campus, the campus is home to thousands of students enrolled in more than 40 degree programs.

Photo by Deanna Dent

Thousands of learners from more than 150 countries enrolled in the first digitally enabled course offered through Global Freshman Academy. The academy is a result of an ASU-EdX partnership to provide accessible higher education opportunities to people around the world in a cost-effective and personalized manner.

ASU has developed key regional economic development partnerships, including ones with the City of Phoenix for its Downtown Phoenix campus, the city of Mesa for ASU Polytechnic campus, and Mayo Clinic, to connect talent and innovation to place-based development. The development of SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, has been responsible for the creation of 1,500 jobs and an economic output of more than $588 million to the Greater Phoenix economy. SkySong’s economic impact is estimated to grow to $32 billion in the next 30 years.

“Public research universities such as Arizona State University serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting-edge research that yields breakthroughs that improve life well beyond the confines of campus,” said APLU president Peter McPherson. “Equally important, these institutions cultivate the talent necessary to help fledgling business take flight and ensure existing enterprises have the human capital they need to maintain their dynamism.”

To learn more regarding ASU’s economic development efforts and partnerships, click here.

Trisalyn Nelson joins ASU to lead School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

Trisalyn Nelson, Director, School of Geographical Sciences & Uran Planning

Brainstorm a list of societal challenges — from extreme heat to social equity to transportation — and they all share two characteristics: They have unique distributions in space, and their spatial patterns change over time.Trisalyn Nelson, the new director of ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning as of July 1, has focused her research on examining spatial and spatial-tempo...

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Trisalyn Nelson joins ASU to lead School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

July 19, 2016

Trisalyn Nelson, the new director of ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning as of July 1, has focused her research on examining spatial and spatial-temporal patterns in order to better understand the underlying processes behind everything from wildlife movement to hazardous chemical exposure to cycling safety. Trisalyn Nelson, Director, School of Geographical Sciences & Uran Planning Trisalyn Nelson is the new director of ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Download Full Image

“Societal challenges are increasingly complex,” Nelson said. “They include interactions between physical environments, built environments, and people.

“With 54 percent of the world’s population living in cities, health and sustainability require urban planning that is informed by knowledge of earth processes and human interactions with space and place.”

“I chose to move to ASU because I believe society needs solutions that an integrated geographical sciences and urban planning school can provide,” Nelson said.

With its strength in areas such as urban climatology and Geographical Information Science (GIS), Nelson feels that the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning is uniquely poised to address a wide range of key issues: the impact of climate change on urban sustainability and population health, how best to use newly-available geographic data for smart urban design, the role of active transportation like cycling as a mechanism for sustainability, the impacts of human disturbance on earth systems, plants, and wildlife — and more.

“I’m pleased to welcome Dr. Trisalyn Nelson to our college and to ASU,” said Elizabeth Wentz, dean of Social Sciences for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “She brings an impressive research record that crosses disciplinary boundaries to solve societal problems, as well as strong success as a leader.”

Nelson joins ASU from Canada’s University of Victoria, where she founded and directed the Spatial Pattern Analysis and Research Laboratory, was director of the Geomatics Program, and held the Lansdowne Research Chair in Spatial Sciences.

Nelson’s research initiatives build on transdisciplinarity among technical fields — integrating the power of computing, statistics and geographic information science (GIScience). She sees great opportunities to lead the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning to collaborate across campus, within the surrounding community and with industry.

“Location, the heart of geography, provides a mechanism to integrate transdisciplinary knowledge and supports development of nuanced solutions,” she said. “The School is operating at the highest level and I believe by growing ideas we are collectively passionate about I can help build on existing momentum and continue the trajectory of excellence. The School is open for business.”