University of Arizona College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences

09/08/2026

Interested in earning your International HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Alliance certification in just 2.5 days? Check out this hands-on opportunity happening in mid-September.

The University of Arizona Basic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) course equips food manufacturers, food safety professionals and food scientists/technologists with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement food safety programs.

Learn more here: https://ce.arizona.edu/classes/basic-haccp-training?publication=20260908&utm_campaign=University+of+Arizona+College+of+Agriculture%2C+Life+%26+Environmental+Sciences&utm_content=Interested+in+earning+you&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

09/02/2026

Applications are now open for the first-ever DESERT-PFAS Student Grand Challenge!

Junior, senior, and graduate students at U of A are invited to apply to solve real-world challenges relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” taking place in our Sonoran Desert community.

PFAS are in our water, soils, food, consumer products, and even air. In Arizona, where PFAS management decisions intersect with water scarcity, rapid population growth, and diverse communities, we face urgent questions about long-term environmental sustainability, public health, and equitable risk management.

Selected students will work with UA faculty and professional mentors during the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters to tackle real environmental challenges related to PFAS and report on their findings and progress.

Build your professional training and network, receive mentorship in solving cutting-edge problems, meet milestones you set with your teammates and mentors, receive a $1,000 award per person at the end of the program!

Applications are due Wednesday, September 30: https://bit.ly/4c2UHLe

08/28/2026

Eric Morgan is a junior studying Biosystems Analytics & Technology with a minor in Biosystems Engineering. On campus he serves as the President for the Biosystems Engineering Electronics Club, a club full of students who engage with hands-on projects, explore cutting-edge technologies, and develop professional skills while contributing to advancements in human health and the environment. He's also a new member of the CALES Ambassador team where he will help recruit future Wildcats!

Eric spent his summer travelling all over Europe! He started in Santorini off the coast of Greece and made his way all to Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, and Nuremburg.

As we say goodbye to summer, we say hello to brand new semester full of opportunities!

08/25/2026

New semester, new stickers! ✨ Which one do you want on your laptop?

Stop by the CALES Ice Cream Social tomorrow (8/26) in the Forbes Building from 2-4 pm to build your own ice cream sundae & grab your stickers of of choice! 🍦

More details at the link in our bio. See you there!

08/23/2026

Every year in CALES, we design a t-shirt for new students to wear proudly on campus and in their communities! 💙 DRUMROLL, please! Our 2026 design is here!

Want one? You've gotta come to a New Student Welcome event to snag your shirt + other free goodies! 🎁 (Online and Distance students - we're happy to mail you a shirt; let us know on our website!)

Welcome to CALES; we're thrilled you're here! Click the link in bio for welcome event details! 🌵

📸: Modeled by Christina Williams, Veterinary Science student

08/21/2026

Students at the University of Arizona are learning to work with cattle, sell U of A-raised meat, and use drones and artificial intelligence to prepare for careers in agriculture at a working farm within Tucson city limits.

The Campus Agricultural Center, located a few miles from the university’s main campus, serves as a classroom and research lab for thousands of students:

Campus Agricultural Center combines classroom, research lab and working farm within Tucson city limits.

08/18/2026

New students, welcome to CALES! Kick off the semester with events designed to connect you to free and important resources!

🍭 Aug. 21 – Destination AZ: Next Stop CALES (required for new students)
✨ Aug. 22 – New Student Open House (free Class of 2026 t-shirt + families welcome!)
🍦 Aug. 26 – Student Success Ice Cream Social
🌵 Sept. 1 – CALES Club Fair
☀️ Sept. 3 – Graduate Student Mixer

Whether you're new to CALES, returning for another year, or starting graduate school, there's something for everyone. We can't wait to see you! 💙❤️

Details on all events here: https://bit.ly/4ybJAZO

08/17/2026

While he was an undergraduate student in the School of Natural Resources, Oskar Anderson took advantage of the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) internship program and began working with the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN).

Oskar's USA-NPN group is based right here on campus at the University of Arizona. What do they do? "We empower people to understand the phenology (timing of natural changes like animal migration or plant flowering) around them through participatory science. After graduating in May, I began full time as a plant specialist. Most of my work is in curating resources that effectively communicate botanical knowledge for our app Nature's Notebook."

This summer, the Botany 2026 professional conference was held here in Tucson, AZ. Oskar (who calls himself a professional plant-fan) says, "I got to attend a great variety of workshops and lectures. I received practical training on modeling ecological niches and heard fresh science from fields like paleobotany and landscape ecology. A highlight of the conference was a talk from local radio personality and naturalist Petey Mesquitey!"

Oskar graduated from CALES with a BS in Natural Resources. Looking back, he said "I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had through my time at CALES. I hope incoming and returning students get to see how wonderful the Sonoran Desert is and stop to marvel at all the life around them."

08/14/2026

Curious about the cyclosporiasis outbreak you've been hearing about all over the country this summer? Gerardo "Jerry" Lopez, an associate professor and extension specialist in STEM, food safety and environmental microbiology in the University of Arizona's School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, has spent years tracking how the parasite gets into agricultural water and onto fresh produce.

Is this outbreak worse than it has been before? What is the best way to protect yourself?

Find out here:

Associate professor Gerardo "Jerry" Lopez spoke about why cyclospora is so hard to trace, how people can protect themselves, and what most people get wrong about it.

08/05/2026

Attending an R1 university like Arizona means unlocking top-tier research opportunities as an undergraduate!

Ashwin, who studies Optical Sciences & Engineering and served as Secretary for the Biosystems Engineering Club, spent his summer getting hands-on experience in the laboratory! Over the summer, he's been working with the Biomedical Applied Imaging Lab (BAI Lab) where they are developing cutting-edge optical imaging and spectroscopy methods to aid biomedical research.

"My future goal is to go to medical school and this experience has taught me how imaging technology plays a huge role in medicine. Aside from working hard at the lab, I also traveled to San Diego and got to see seals up close!"