STEM Forward

STEM Rooted in Community

STEM Forward is a robust SDSU initiative that will accelerate local economic growth and revolutionize the way we live, work and interact. It’s a commitment to research and teaching that will drive positive change globally while being grounded in community.

Student and Professor looking at petrie dish — Left to right: College of Sciences Associate Dean Tod Reeder, master’s student Bryn Baxter, Division of Research & Innovation Vice President Hala Madanat, master’s student Ty'Tianna Clark stand in front of new lab coat “vending machines” (Rachel Crawford/SDSU)

STEM Forward represents the University’s bold investment in STEM through cross-campus, multidisciplinary initiatives that will prepare our students for the workforce while stimulating development in the region.

Dean Jeff Roberts

SDSU's Commitment to STEM Research and Teaching

STEM Forward Projects

The STEM Forward initiative encapsulates ongoing and future investments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and teaching with key projects happening across SDSU colleges and campuses.

Campus-Wide Space Planning

The university is working to increase academic and classroom space by reducing underused office and administrative space across campus. This effort will involve several projects that expand SDSU’s academic and faculty footprint on the Mesa. For example, Atkinson Hall is being repurposed for faculty and academic department use, including the Department of Psychology.

SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District Labs

Front view of the new stem building — The initial phase of the Innovation District will include two multi-story buildings for research and office space.

The first project to break ground at SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District is the construction of laboratories to house university researchers and provide research facilities to public and private partners. The labs are being developed by LPC West; design began in fall 2023 with possible move-in targeted as early as 2026.

To learn more about this project, visit the Innovation District web page.

Life Sciences Building

Ariel view of the new sciences building — (Courtesy: Hensel Phelps and SmithGroup: Life Sciences Building project area)

Creation of a new state-of-the-art Life Sciences building on the San Diego campus will ignite new opportunities for STEM research as well as instruction. Design and construction planning for this project began fall 2023, with faculty engagement and planning meetings continuing throughout this academic year.

To learn more about this project, visit the building web page.

SDSU Imperial Valley Sciences and Engineering Laboratories

Constructing laboratories at SDSU Imperial Valley will provide the Brawley campus with exceptional teaching and research space. The building will host new four-year degree programs in chemistry and engineering designed for Lithium Valley, core facilities for potential public-private partners (P3) in Imperial Valley, and science teaching laboratories to serve existing programs including nursing and environmental health. Construction breaks ground in February 2024 and the labs will be ready in fall 2025.

STEM Forward is truly a university-wide effort to provide state-of-the-art resources and infrastructure for all of our students, faculty and staff so they can generate impactful ideas and scalable solutions.

Vice President of Research and Innovation, Hala Madanat