Inventing Solutions
Our world no longer fits into neat little buckets. Today’s issues dismantle traditional organizational structures and require interdisciplinary approaches. Our community of collaborators work across disciplines to apply new approaches to solving problems. We bring unconventional partners together — scientists, storytellers, visual artists — in an effort to inspire one another and find solutions in the space in between disciplines.
An Urban Mindset
Tracking food and nutrition security in Los Angeles County
USC Urban Trees Initiative
Measuring carbon dioxide and pollutant levels in Los Angeles
Having a critical mass of faculty across our different campuses, bringing in our different expertise areas, is really about ameliorating the risk that is associated with drug development. The other aspect of critical mass is that we also want to develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Steve Kay, University and Provost Professor, Director of the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience
Interdisciplinary Answers
USC Stevens Center for Innovation
It’s one thing to discover; it’s another to move it to the marketplace where commercialization can maximize positive impact. USC’s technology licensing office plays a key role in the innovation ecosystem across Southern California.


Meeting Today’s Challenges, Head-on
The world is facing complex issues that often have conflicting factors: empty buildings amid housing shortages; climate-fighting technologies and red tape; clinical pain management and opioid addictions. Finding solutions requires new approaches and relentless determination.
Academic Rigor, Visionary Approaches
USC scholars and researchers rise to meet varied modern problems with groundbreaking innovations, cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative solutions — transforming how we tackle today’s most critical issues.
After family friends’ double homicide, online public health student vows to combat gun violence
Mary Rozelle left a longtime career as a dermatology physician assistant because she wanted to achieve a wider impact than is possible by helping just one patient at a time.
How robots can help in the fight against toxic algae
USC computer scientists and biologists have developed a way for autonomous robots to find prime sample spot locations for the algae long before a scientist is onsite.
USC Marshall student launches a digital game to change the world
Larissa Gurjão Pereira De Lima’s game teaches teams to tackle the most difficult problems facing organizations, governments and countries across the globe.
The Paralyzed Will Walk, the Blind Will See: The Bionics Revolution Is Coming
Electronic eyes, robotic arms and exoskeletons? USC experts meld man (and woman) with machine.
Unique partnership seeks creative solutions to housing shortage
USC Price urban planning students work to provide new ideas that could help Southern California communities increase their housing supply.