UC Davis
Grand Challenges

The world’s most pressing challenges demand more than isolated expertise. They require connection—across disciplines, sectors, and communities—working toward shared goals.

At UC Davis, Grand Challenges exists to make those connections. We take a big-picture approach to research and translation, ensuring that faculty expertise is aligned with partners, resources, and opportunities that can generate meaningful societal impact.

We bring together researchers from across the university and beyond—strengthening campus-wide teams, engaging external stakeholders, and supporting collaborative efforts that are positioned to address complex problems and pursue large-scale, transdisciplinary funding.

Grand Challenges also elevates this work by connecting research to campus leadership and partners, helping tell the story of how UC Davis research translates into tangible solutions with local, national, and global relevance.

Grounded in social and environmental justice, our work is guided by three core goals.