Arizona State University’s Sustainability Timeline
A central challenge in the 21st century is to help people live better in a world of constrained resources. The customer of the future will continue to expect affordable products, but with higher quality and greater transparency regarding their environmental impacts. Businesses that get ahead of these rising expectations will win in the long-run.
—S. Robson Walton, Chairman of the Board, Wal-Mart
1954 | 1966 | 1974 | 1986 | 1989 | 1992 | 1997 | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009
1954
Association for Applied Solar Energy founded to encourage renewable energy use
1966
Rio Salado Project initiated in College of Architecture to rehabilitate riparian habitat
1974
ASU offers first-ever master’s degree focusing on solar applications
The Center for Environmental Studies established
1986
Arizona Riparian Council founded
1989
1992
ASU establishes Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory
1997
Center for Environmental Studies receives $4.3 million NSF award to initiate CAP LTER (Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-term Ecological Research)
1998
Ecology Explorers K-12 science program launched
2000
ASU receives more than $2.5 million to launch IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training) in urban ecology
2002
Biodesign Institute created to advance environmental sustainability
2003
Consortium for the Study of Rapidly Urbanizing Regions formed
2004
Global leaders convene for sustainability challenges summit resulting in establishment of ASU’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives
Decision Center for a Desert City launched with $7 million NSF grant
The Global Institute of Sustainability established with $15 million gift from Julie Ann Wrigley
Advancing Conservation in a Social Context begins research in Tanzania, Peru, Vietnam; funded by MacArthur Foundation
2005
Decision Theater opens with $3 million gift from Ira A. Fulton
National Center of Excellence on Smart Innovations forms to advance technology-based solutions for challenges such as urban heat island
2006
School of Sustainability established
2007
President Crow announces the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment
Biodesign Institute Building B earns Arizona’s first platinum-level certification for Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Design (LEED) from the U.S. Building Council
2008
Established Solar Power Lab
2009
School of Sustainability honors first class of graduates
Barrett, the Honors College, opens sustainable living community
Sustainability Consortium forms in partnership with Walmart, Dial, US-EPA, others to establish scientific standards for assessing sustainability of consumer products
Energy Frontier Research Center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy launches to accelerate a bio-solar fuel energy economy