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Institutes, Initiatives & Centers

University Institutes

  • The Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) brings together knowledge and resources from across the university to address the most important global health issues of our time. DGHI faculty, staff and students are engaged in research and educational projects in more than 40 countries, including the United States. For more information, visit globalhealth.duke.edu.

  • The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS) provides a vibrant hub for all who share our vision of making neuroscience greater than the sum of its parts by integrating schools, disciplines, analysis and education to accelerate breakthroughs and benefit society. For more information, visit dibs.duke.edu.

  • The John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI) is built on a fundamentally collaborative model befitting the Duke University emphasis on knowledge in the service of society. Through interdisciplinary cross-fertilization, we seek to encourage the conversations, partnerships, and collaborations that continually stimulate creative and fresh humanistic research, writing, teaching, and practice at Duke. For more information, visit fhi.duke.edu.

  • The Kenan Institute for Ethics is an interdisciplinary think and do tank committed to promoting moral reflection and commitment, conducting interdisciplinary research, and shaping policy and practice at Duke and beyond. For more information, visit kenan.ethics.duke.edu.

  • The Margolis Institute for Health Policy catalyzes Duke University's leading capabilities including interdisciplinary academic research and capacity for education and engagement, to inform policy making and implementation for better health and health care. The Institute has offices and staff on Duke University’s campus in Durham, North Carolina and at the Duke in DC offices in the heart of the nation’s capital. For more information, visit healthpolicy.duke.edu.

  • The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability advances the university’s mission to build a more sustainable world by developing transformative educational experiences; galvanizing and conducting impactful research; and engaging with key decision makers at the global, national, state, and local levels. For more information, visit nicholasinstitute.duke.edu.

  • The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) brings together researchers with interests in problems that cross the various social and behavioral sciences, including problems that connect with the humanities and natural sciences. For more information, visit ssri.duke.edu.

Initiatives

  • Bass Connections bridges the classroom and the world beyond the university, giving students from all of Duke’s schools a chance to tackle complex societal problems alongside our superb faculty. For more information, visit bassconnections.duke.edu.

  • Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) believes all Duke students benefit from learning about innovation and entrepreneurship—from those who wish to found a company, to those who want to change the world with innovation, to those who simply want to cultivate a more creative and entrepreneurial mindset. I&E partners with schools and departments across Duke to offer interdisciplinary, experience-based education. For more information, visit entrepreneurship.duke.edu.

  • Duke Science & Society fosters research, education, communication, democratic deliberation, and policy engagement on the ethical progress of science and technology in society. For more information, visit scienceandsociety.duke.edu.

  • The Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke (iiD) is an interdisciplinary program designed to increase "big data" computational research and expand opportunities for student engagement in this rapidly growing field. For more information, visit bigdata.duke.edu.

Centers

  • The Center for Computational Thinking (CCT) enables computational education at Duke to ensure that every student, regardless of field of study, is prepared for the digital 21st century. Through partnerships with faculty, programs, and departments spanning a wide range of disciplines including data science, cybersecurity, policy, and ethics, the center brings computational learning experiences and opportunities to the Duke community and beyond. For more information, visit computationalthinking.duke.edu.

  • The Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) offers an interdisciplinary program in the documentary arts—photography, audio, film/video, narrative writing, new media, and other means of creative expression—that emphasizes active engagement in the world beyond the university campus. For more information, visit documentarystudies.duke.edu.

  • The Dewitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy (DWC) is Duke University’s hub for the study of journalism. DWC studies the interaction between news media and policy, supports watchdog and accountability reporting in the United States and around the world, and teaches about the media’s role in democracy. The center is part of the Sanford School of Public Policy, and shares in the Sanford School’s mission of teaching, research, and policy engagement, with the goal of putting knowledge in service to society. For more information, visit dewitt.sanford.duke.edu.

  • Duke Civic Engagement (DCE) strengthens and connects the ways in which Duke partners with communities. DCE supports Duke’s collaborations on pressing social challenges by increasing the capacity of the campus to sustain partnerships and sharing best practices in community engagement. For more information, visit civic.duke.edu.

  • Duke University has many additional centers located within its schools. Information about these centers can be found on each school's website.

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