Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

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Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

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USGS-university partnership that develops climate adaptation solutions with SW partners.

The Southwest Climate Science Center (SW CSC) was established in 2011 to provide objective scientific information, tools, and techniques that land, water, wildlife, and cultural resource managers and other interested parties can apply to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change impacts in the southwestern United States. The SW CSC is one of eight regional Climate Science Centers managed by the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. The SW CSC is a collaborative partnership among USGS scientists, resource management agencies, and a consortium of six academic institutions from across the region - University of Arizona, UCLA, UC Davis, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Desert Research Institute, and CU Boulder. One of the greatest strengths of the SW CSC is the expertise provided by the program’s numerous partners and affiliate institutions

10/07/2026

“It’s frickin’ bats!” 🦇🎧 In our latest Come Rain or Shine podcast episode, we spoke with Dr. Kristen Lear (Kristen Lear ), director of the Agave Restoration Initiative at Bat Conservation International .

She talks about some of the biggest threats that are facing today, how restoring landscapes supports their populations, and what you can do in your own backyard these amazing flying mammals.

Dr. Lear says she’s always had a love for the underdog — and by the end of this episode, she just might have you rooting for bats too! So grab a blanket and your favorite drink, and listen to our October episode on bats, out now. Link in bio.

09/02/2026

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? 🌲🎧🔊 We may not have the answer… but we do have a New Come Rain or Shine podcast episode out now on !

In this latest episode, we talked to Zander Evans and Cody Dems, respectively the executive director and Southwest program manager of the Forest Stewards Guild . Based in Santa Fe, NM, the Guild supports ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry through active stewardship, outreach, and education.

Evans and Dems share how they got interested in forestry, the collaborative nature of their work, and the importance of working in and across communities to create change on the ground. They highlight ongoing efforts in forest resilience, fire management, and climate adaptation, including Guild’s projects with the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, Joint Fire Science Program , the 2-3-2 Partnership, and more.

Listen at the link in bio!

08/05/2026

New podcast episode out now! 🚨🎧

Water is one of the most important resources in the Southwest. What can we learn from someone with decades of experience in this work? Listen to our conversation with Kathy Jacobs, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona and founder of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions. Recently retired, Jacobs reflects on a long and storied career in water resources and climate adaptation and assessment. Link in bio to listen!!

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Missed our last episode? Dr. Scott Hotaling, Assistant Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences and the Extension Climate Resiliency Specialist at Utah State University, talks about rock glaciers, ice worms and wolverines - oh my!

06/01/2026

Wildfire Awareness Month may be over, but wildfire risk is a year-round reality. 🔥

In a recent study funded in part by the Southwest CASC, researchers examined the atmospheric conditions that fueled one of the most destructive fires in California history: the 2025 Los Angeles urban firestorm. Because urban fire events are likely to increase under warming conditions, understanding how climate dynamics contribute to large-scale fires is crucial for improving fire-weather forecasting and community preparedness.

🔗 To learn more about wildfire research, check out the links in our bio.

Image credit: Adobe Stock, Pexels, and USGS

05/06/2026

Check out the latest episodes of the Come Rain or Shine Podcast! In April, we spoke with Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann at Colorado State University about wildfire and post-fire recovery, and this month we talked with USGS Geographer Roy Petrakis about a collaborative Gila River riparian restoration project, in partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Link in bio!

04/03/2026

This could be you! 🔔 Just ONE☝️WEEK left to apply for our Natural Resource Workforce Development (NRWD) Fellowship!! We encourage applicants from a broad range of disciplines.

Join the 2026-27 NRWD cohort to travel, work with other graduate students, and learn from science professionals.

➡️Apply by April 10: https://swcasc.arizona.edu/nrwd-fellowship

Address

1064 E Lowell Street
Tucson, AZ
85719

Website

http://www.swcsc.arizona.edu/

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