The Inaugural Interdisciplinary Frontiers in the Humanities & Arts (IFHA) program is an initiative designed to help catalyze a new era in research excellence across the humanities, social sciences, and creative and performing arts. IFHA funding facilitates the formation and enhancement of interdisciplinary teams to carry out collaborative research activities in areas of strategic importance to California, the nation, and the world. IFHA and sibling RISE are crucial components of the Interdisciplinary Frontiers Program in that they establish globally competitive, large-scale interdisciplinary research activity at UC Davis. Following a rigorous review process, seven IFHA clusters were selected based on their potential to craft transformative theories and approaches to the complex cultural, humanistic and social problems facing today’s individuals and societies. The IFHA awards total $3.6 million to be distributed over a three year period.