On February 28, 2025, hundreds of ASU educators, technologists, students, and student success professionals gathered at FOLC (Future of Learning Community) Fest to shine a light on how principled innovation has shaped their work, guided their practices, and echoed ASU’s charter commitments. As part of this event, Dr. Bea Rodriguez-Fransen, Director at ASU Next Lab…

In addition to serving on the design committee of the 100Yr EdTech Summit 2025, ASU Next Lab Co-founder and Director Dr. Bea Rodriguez-Fransen authored and collaborated with StoryCenter to produce the future scenario “Declaration Day: A ‘Major’ Reset.” Of the 33 future scenarios that were submitted to the summit this year, Rodriguez-Fransen’s was voted by…

What if, in ten years, autonomous electric shuttles in Tempe’s most congested areas successfully reduce the need for personal car ownership, despite the city’s historical car-centric infrastructure? What if the integration of smart technology in Tempe’s transportation system significantly improves road safety and connectivity, and promotes inclusivity for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists? Or…

ASU Next Lab Co-founders Dr. Bea Rodriguez-Fransen and Dan Munnerley were featured as speakers at ASU’s Smart Region Summit on March 4, 2025. Rodriguez-Fransen served on a panel on Indigenous Communities and Social Impact, and Munnerley was a panelist for the Education and Workforce Development stream. Indigenous Communities and Digital Twins: Capacity-Building, Digital Sovereignty &…

ASU Next Lab Co-founder and Director, Dr. Bea Rodriguez-Fransen, was recently invited as a plenary speaker at XR Southern Summit on February 26-27, 2025. Her talk explored how ASU Next Lab anticipates change, empowering the next generation of innovators with future skills and emerging technologies. Hosted by Southern Utah University, the Summit is a national…