Looking Back on 2020: A Year in Review
Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, visited campus in September to tour labs where researchers are helping in the fight against COVID-19. / Chris Richards photo
1. UArizona-led NASA OSIRIS-REx mission collects first-ever asteroid sample.
2. UArizona collaborates on $115 million effort to build a quantum computer, part of a $625 million federal program to foster quantum innovation in the United States.
3. UArizona makes major leap in US News & World Report rankings — ranked No. 97 overall, up 20 spots from last year’s ranking, and No. 40 among public universities.
4. UArizona launches COVID-19 exposure notification app in partnership with Covid Watch.
5. UArizona mourns the passing of Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson.
6. UArizona celebrates Black lives when approximately 3,000 people attend a Celebration of Black Lives in remembrance of Black Americans George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
7. 17th U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona becomes director of the university’s Campus Reentry Task Force and leads test, treat and trace safety protocols.
8. UArizona and the state of Arizona expand COVID-19 antibody testing statewide, including testing thousands of students and employees and leading waste-water testing across the country to trace coronavirus prevalence.
9. UArizona hosts first-ever virtual Commencement and President Robert C. Robbins confers more than 11,000 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees.
10. UArizona College of Veterinary Medicine admits its first class.
In the photo: Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, visited campus in September to tour labs where researchers are helping in the fight against COVID-19.