The Expanding Impact of Southwest Climate Adaptation Science
Sunset at Dead Horse Point on the Colorado River. Image Credit: Adobe Stock.
Since its inception in 2011, the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) has developed actionable science and climate adaptation solutions in partnership with natural and cultural resource managers across the Southwest. Through a synthesis of SW CASC-funded projects and manuscripts published from 2018 to 2023, a recent publication highlights the center’s co-produced science contributions and outlines some specific impacts of SW CASC research in the region.
Science Shaping the Southwest
Conserving Southwest ecosystems calls for actionable science that is useful and accessible for resource managers, conservation practitioners, Tribal communities, policy makers, and the general public. This publication provides some examples of these research contributions, such as developing forest resilience frameworks, studying sea level rise and fire regimes, predicting weather patterns to prepare for extreme events, and conducting research that develops and supports partnerships for better informed resource planning. These case studies illustrate the wide spectrum of science the SW CASC contributes to help inform management decisions in the region.
Image Credit: Bailey, Kinzie, JiaHu, Alison M.Meadow, Stephanie A.McAfee, AlexanderGershunov, CarolynEnquist, DanCayan, et al. 2026. “Creating Usable Science: A Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Study.” Earth Stewardship3(2): e70037. https://doi.org/10.1002/eas2.70037
Partnership in Action
The collaboration between researchers and partners, also known as engaged scholarship, is the driving force behind the co-produced science of the SW CASC. One way to assess the impact of engaged scholarship is by understanding the many ways that the research is used by decision-makers. For SW CASC-funded projects, the impact spans from light touch communication (adding to people’s knowledge about or awareness of an issue) to fostering connectivity (building capacity and strengthening relationships) to instrumental and socio-environmental change (contributing to long-term changes in social or environmental systems). From cultural burning and coastal manager workshops to Colorado River basin tools and workforce development fellowships, the study spotlights multiple contributions to regional impacts.
From Publications to Policy
Finally, the study examined the 70+ papers and publicly available reports directly stemming from SW CASC-supported research and noted their use in policy documents. The study authors found that these papers had a citation rate of 27.6%, a high number compared to similar analyses that found research articles cited at 3.9% in policy documents.
This research illustrates the Southwest CASC’s ability to effectively engage with research partners to produce relevant and usable science across thematic areas and biodiverse ecosystems. By generating new research, making lasting impacts, and informing management decisions, the SW CASC continues to help build resilience in the Southwest.
Read the full publication online at Earth Stewardship.