Innovation in Society

About this opportunity

As the Faculty Honors Advisor for Innovation in Society , I support students who are passionate about understanding and solving complex, real-world challenges

Students in Innovation in Society explore how science, technology, and innovation can be designed and applied to create more equitable, sustainable, and thriving communities. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, they develop skills in systems thinking, foresight, policy analysis, and responsible innovation.

Whether your interests lie in human-centered innovation, data-driven problem solving, or the intersection of both, honors opportunities can help you deepen your academic experience through research, creative projects, and meaningful collaboration with faculty.

Thesis

There is no one-size-fits-all SFIS honors thesis. While many students choose to write a traditional research paper, there are many other ways to create a meaningful honors project. Students have used methods such as qualitative research, community engagement, interviews, historical analysis and creative design to explore questions they care about. Throughout the process, faculty mentors help students develop new skills and create a project with real-world impact.

Past SFIS Barrett Honors theses have taken many forms, including a documentary-style video about bringing medical aid to a developing country, a historical analysis of fracking bans presented to environmental organizations, a photography portfolio that became a training manual for the ASU water-skiing club, the design and production of sustainable clothing, interviews with orphans in post-earthquake Nepal, and the development of a game that explores possible energy futures. Some students have even gone on to publish their work in academic journals or popular media.

Students completing a Barrett honors thesis with SFIS faculty work with a thesis committee that includes a faculty advisor and one or more additional committee members. Depending on the project, students may invite committee members from outside academia, including policymakers, nonprofit leaders, industry professionals and other experts whose perspectives strengthen the project and help maximize its impact.

Academic Preparation

Because every SFIS honors thesis is unique, there is no single path to preparing for it. One of the best ways to get started is by connecting with the faculty member you'd like to work with. They can help you develop the skills you'll need, explore potential project ideas and mentor you throughout the process.

If you're not sure where to begin, there are several great options. You might complete an honors enrichment contract in an SFIS course, or apply for an SFIS Undergraduate Research Fellowship to spend a semester working alongside a faculty member on their research. These experiences can help you build valuable skills, explore your interests and lay the foundation for a successful honors thesis.

Recommended Timeline

Because the possibilities are endless, it takes a lot of time to think of, develop, and finally produce an SFIS honors thesis. Students typically begin to develop their ideas in their Junior year and, sometime before beginning their senior year, have found a faculty member they are excited to work with. The summer after Junior year and the first semester of senior year are often used to do field research or to flesh out the details of the project. That gives a few months in the last semester to write up or put the finishing touches on a project. Every project is different, and faculty are happy to begin collaborating on a project earlier, but this general timeline can help guide you to completing a successful project.

Other Honors Opportunities

Students are encouraged to ask about honors enrichment contracts in their FIS courses. Faculty are open to contracts and offer a variety of ways to execute them. In the past students have done everything from photography portfolios to opinion pieces for online newspapers. 

All students are welcome to enroll in the school's major or minor programs. Many students take "Innovation in Society" or "Complexity Science" as a concurrent degree (double major) to gain a broad perspective on the world that complements the more focused views they gain in other majors.