Bridging Barriers

By UT, For the World

In 2016, The University of Texas at Austin research enterprise launched a long-term university-wide research program with one objective: To bring together its experts and leverage its collective strength for research that addresses the toughest questions facing the world. Unlike other notable grand challenge initiatives, UT’s Bridging Barriers was designed solely by UT researchers and their graduate students.

The program serves as an incubator for some of the boldest cross-disciplinary UT projects by supporting researchers as they form broad teams tasked with identifying urgent, real-world issues and figuring out the best way to solve them in less than a decade.

Co-led by engineering researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering, Bridging Barriers’ initiatives — Planet Texas 2050, Whole Communities – Whole Health and Good Systems — are rooted in collaboration and academic freedom to produce practical solutions to social, environmental and humanitarian crises. From artificial intelligence to social inequality, teams around campus are laying the groundwork today for what could become a UT Grand Challenge tomorrow.

Planet Texas 2050

Developing programs and policy recommendations that will improve adaptability and build resilience in Texas and beyond. The research team will focus on understanding the interconnectedness of four critical resource systems: water, energy, urbanization and ecosystem services.

Whole Communities – Whole Health

Creating cutting-edge advances in behavioral and health science to reach the children and families who need them most. The research team will focus on advancements in four areas: biology, technology, environment and behavior

Good Systems

Designing values-based AI technologies that both protect and improve our world. The research team will focus on evaluating, developing, implementing and regulating AI-based technologies so they reflect human values at their core.