The University of Texas at Austin’s Bridging Barriers research grand challenges have demonstrated the value and impact made possible by interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Good Systems grand challenge at The University of Texas at Austin is developing digital twin technology to create smarter, safer cities, with their "Good System for Smart Cities" project. Using AI and real-time data, the initiative emphasizes ethical considerations and community engagement, aiming to shape more sustainable and equitable urban environments as urbanization increases. The project has started out by focusing on fire and smoke mitigation in Austin's wildland-urban interface.

Every year, more people are being exposed to dangerous heat, with the elderly, outdoor workers and low-income communities often facing the gravest risks. To confront this escalating challenge, a diverse coalition of multidisciplinary teams at Planet Texas 2050 has launched several innovative projects.

Whole Communities–Whole Health’s annual research showcase is typically a chance for the UT Grand Challenge to show off its achievements from the previous year. This year, however, WCWH’s leaders devoted the morning session to an inaugural flash funding competition they hope will lead to future successes.

ICYMI: Five Key Takeaways from the 2024 Planet Texas 2050 Symposium

Extreme heat poses significant challenges to communities across Texas, impacting public health, infrastructure, and ecosystems. On February 28, the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin hosted a panel discussion as part of the ongoing Planet Texas 2050 initiative, exploring interdisciplinary approaches to address the complexities of extreme heat in the state.

The University of Texas at Austin is welcomed visitors to campus for the solar eclipse on April 8. In addition to the distribution of free eclipse glasses, live music and events around campus, a unique comprehensive visual installation at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences was on display.

A new study by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin provides the most reliable validation to date of the connection between physical activity, sleep quality and psychological health.

An interview with Whole Communities–Whole Health showcase keynote speaker Adam Grabell, whose SEED Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studies how young children learn to understand and control their feelings

A multi-university team that includes University of Texas at Austin researchers has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to create AI-based interventions to help address the risk for suicide among Black youth.