Citizen Science Association


C*Sci 2023 Location

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C*SCi 2023 in tempe (Phoenix), Arizona

Our 2023 conference will take place on the Arizona State University campus in sunny Tempe, Arizona. Located in the center of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Tempe is a college town with a personality all its own. Tempe is easily accessible to and from surrounding areas and a walkable town from Arizona State University. Less than 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Tempe is a great jumping off point for your Arizona adventure. 

CSA pleased to work along side local host committee members from the School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS)a transdisciplinary unit at the vanguard of ASU’s commitment to linking innovation to public value. The local host committee is arranging field trips that explore the desert landscape and community-embedded sessions that connect national and local experts in community spaces.

Conference venue

Conference sessions will take place in ASU’s Memorial Union. The Memorial Union (MU) is located at 301 E. Orange St., on the ASU Tempe campus. Visitor parking is available at the Apache Blvd. Parking Structure.

Photo of interior of ASU Memorial Union. Photo from ASU website.

What to do in and around tempe

Tempe embraces an active lifestyle and laid-back atmosphere and it’s a place where community matters. Tempe is a welcoming destination with a spirited lifestyle where you’ll find fun-filled activities at every turn.

1. Explore Arizona State University

Magic Planet, a digital video globe, from the ASU inside interdisciplinary science and technology building 4.

Gallery of Scientific Exploration

The Gallery of Scientific Exploration, features several interactive exhibits designed for engagement and discovery, and encourages one to explore their futures as scientists and engineers. The first-floor gallery invites visitors to explore earth and space sciences through digital media, visible laboratories and interactive displays. Exhibits include a replica of the Mars Rover Curiosity, EarthScope, an instrument used to measure and understand earthquakes and continental movement, and Magic Planet, a digital video globe with a six-foot diameter sphere-shaped screen. Head upstairs to explore the meteorite display, drawn from the extensive collection of ASU’s Center for Meteorite Studies. Stretch your mind to the very edge while exploring the exhibits in this building and learn lots of cool factoids along the way.

ASU Art Museum Ceramics Center & Brickyard Gallery houses an impressive collection of nearly 4,000 pieces by some of the most extraordinary artists from around the world, representing several decades.

ASU Art Museum exterior.

The ASU Art Museum exhibits national and international contemporary artists, with a focus on Latin American art. The Museum houses the largest collection of Cuban art in the U.S. and an award-winning print collection. Exhibitions change seasonally.

2. Learn about Arizona’s Native American Culture

Arizona’s Native American communities are an integral part of the state’s history and culture. Home to 22 federally recognized tribes, Arizona is a state that embraces the various traditions of our Native American neighbors. Many tribal lands are located in the far reaches of Arizona, but a few border Tempe and neighboring cities. Here are a few places to explore and learn more.

Hike “A” Mountainwalkable from Arizona State University.

Officially called Hayden Butte Preserve Park (O’odham: ʼOidbaḍ Doʼag), this Downtown Tempe Landmark is culturally significant to the salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Hikers can see hundreds of petroglyphs made by the Hohokam people between A.D. 750 and 1450.

Heard Museum was Founded in 1929, and is focused on accurately portraying Native arts and cultures through a series of galleries that showcase both the past and present.  The extensive collection includes a variety of Katsina Dolls created by various Native American Tribes. 

Credit-Pueblo-Grande-Museum.-Panoramic-View-of-Site. Photo from visitphoenix.com

Visit Pueblo Grande Museum & Archaeological Park. Almost 100 years old, this museum gives visitors a peek into prehistoric history by showcasing the remains of the Hohokam people’s ball court and platform mound.  Visitors can also see replicated dwellings, native plants and galleries exploring the Hohokam culture which thrived throughout the Salt River Valley which is now Metro Phoenix.

3. Venture out- Day trips at your fingertips!

Tempe is the perfect home base for exploring. With its central location, you can easily visit Arizona destinations with Tempe as your home base. Many local tour companies will pick up guests from their Tempe accommodations and depart for the Grand Canyon, Sedona or the Apache Trail. Take a city tour showing the highlights of the Phoenix area. Or try a guided mountain biking or hiking adventure.

You can’t visit Arizona with out seeing a natural wonder, The Grand Canyon. 4 hours from Tempe, The Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark — a natural wonder you must see to believe. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, the Grand Canyon’s rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River continues to carve away at the rugged landscape. Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime, and area businesses and outfitters make experiencing the canyon accessible to everyone. 

Grand Canyon in daytime. Photo by Tim Hart on Unsplash

Sedona, Arizona is 2 hours from Tempe and offers spiritual and wellness experiences. Check out one of their 7 natural vortexes, iconic red rocks, and learn about their sustainable efforts to preserve their town. One can enjoy their Secret 7, an innovative approach that reveals lesser-known trails and locations throughout Red Rock Country. Stroll through their town full of shops to find unique Native American art and jewelry or adventure off on a guided Pink Jeep Tour! 

The Apache Trail is a short 30 minute drive from Tempe; Follow the footsteps that Native Americans and hopeful prospectors took over 100 years ago.

Ghostly, volcanic Superstition cliffs rise 2,000 feet, hiding the Lost Dutchman Mine, one of the most storied mines of the West. The Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding region.

Image of Superstition Mountains along Apache Trail. Photo from VisitMesa.com

Along the Trail you can experience Goldfield Ghost Town, enjoy nature hiking, a Dolly Steamboat Tour on Canyon Lake, and Prickly Pear Ice-cream at Tortilla Flat. This day trip is full of adventure for many interests and offers tours and activities such as horseback riding, ziplining, and water activities. 

For more information on Tempe and its surroundings, visit: Tempetourism.com