Research rooted in relation. Knowledge shaped by community. Futures built together.
As a researcher and director of the Relate Lab. Dr. Liliana Caughman leads collaborative, community-embedded projects that bridge Indigenous sciences, environmental sciences, and transformation. These initiatives bring together diverse knowledge systems, generate real-world impact, and expand the possibilities of scholarly inquiry.
Visit the Relate Lab
WaterSIMmerse: Water Stories & Systems
Reimagining relationships with water through research, STEM learning, and story. Creating exhibits that collect, protect, and preserve water stories.
In partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT), the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), and communities in South Phoenix and Page, AZ, Dr. Caughman is a Co-PI for the WaterSIMmerse project. This initiative explores how people relate to water and water systems across geographies and cultures. The project centers co-created workshops, museum exhibits, and STEM learning experiences that connect Indigenous knowledges, community needs, and water challenges. The project integrates emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality with place-based and cultural understandings. The first exhibit, Agua es Vida can be visited at the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix, AZ. WaterSIMmerse aims to deepen understanding, inspire action, and support communities in navigating the complex Arizona water system into the future.
Research topics: culturally responsive AI, traditional ecological knowledge, University/tribal partnerships, rhetorical attunement, community perspectives on water, data sovereignty.
Weaving Relations: Research Pathways for Indigenous and Latine Scholars
Cultivating future scholars through community-embedded and identity-based team science research experiences.
Weaving Relations is a cohort-based program supporting Indigenous and Latine scholars through immersive research experiences rooted in respect, relationality, and belonging. As a Co-PI on the project Dr. Caughman designs and leads the program to equip students with hands-on skills, mentorship, and meaningful connections—building pathways through graduate education and beyond. The project blends indigenous methodologies, Land-based learning, collaborative inquiry, and social justice frameworks to redefine who belongs in research spaces. Projects have included: Contested Past, Present, and Future of the Rio Salado; Indigenous Food Justice at the Cultural Conservancy; Food Stands and the Informal Economy at Navajo Nation; Unhoused Residence of Phoenix and Land Relations; and Native Hawaiian Conservation.
Research: STEM education pedagogies, curriculum, and practices for Indigenous and Latine scholars; liberation of Indigenous sciences; critical studies of “science” and “research”, science identity, land rematriation.
River Futures: The Rio Salado Project (CAP LTER)
Restoring connection in a divided river landscape.
Part of the Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) network, River Futures brings critical attention to the Rio Salado, a once-thriving river now reshaped by urban development. Dr. Caughman’s work in this project includes field-based learning, counter-mapping, and storytelling with students and community members. The project investigates the past and future of the Salt River corridor, highlighting the power and possibility of urban ecological restoration, with goals of co-creating healthy social-ecological-technical systems (SETs) using empowering nature-baaed solutions. This work is in partnership with Sagrado Galleria and the Rio Salado Audubon center.
Research: Relationality in complex systems, embodied and Somatic learning and practices, co-healing of humans and environment, transformative futures, art/science continuum, nature-based solutions, ecopsychology.
Energy Futures: Carbon Capture, Storage, and Sovereignty
Designing energy and pollution solutions with and for Indigenous communities.
This project explores the potential of carbon capture, energy storage, and other emerging technologies for use on Tribal lands. Dr. Caughman collaborates with Indigenous partners and engineering colleagues to assess implementation pathways grounded in sovereignty, justice, and local knowledge. The work includes scenario planning, ethical evaluation, and participatory design, with the goal of supporting self-determined energy transitions that respect culture, place, and future generations.
Research: carbon capture and storage implementation, Indigenous perspectives on energy transitions, community-engaged engineering and design.
Walk with me
Whether you’re a student, community partner, researcher, or organizer, there are many ways to connect. I collaborate on research, support curriculum and program development, and help build meaningful partnerships rooted in good relations and care. I also offer consulting, facilitation, evaluation, and mentoring for individuals and organizations ready to do transformative work.
© 2025 Liliana Caughman, PhD. All views and opinions expressed on this website are my own and do not represent those of Arizona State University or any other affiliated institutions or organizations.