Duke funded research has supported research relevant to Environmental and Climate Justice, Climate and Community Resilience, and Climate Science, Technology and Policy. View some of the project highlights below.
CRISP
The Duke Climate Research Innovation Seed Program (CRISP) grants were awarded in 2023 and 2024 to teams of Duke scholars pursuing new research on sustainable, equitable solutions to address climate change and its effects. The $1.34 million in awarded grants supported 75 Duke researchers across 24 research teams. Research topics included sea level rise and water quality risks in coastal North Carolina, rainforest and community health in Madagascar, and environmental justice implications of critical mineral mining. The first two rounds of CRISP funding were administered by the Nicholas Institute of Energy, Environment & Sustainability. Visit their website to learn more about CRISP-funded projects.
Environmental & Climate Justice in the Carolinas
In 2024, Duke’s offices of Durham & Community Affairs, Climate and Sustainability, Faculty Advancement, and Interdisciplinary Studies collaborated to support the Environmental & Climate Justice in the Carolinas grants, with funding from The Duke Endowment. The opportunity funded four research projects focused on community-engaged research related to climate and environmental justice in the Carolinas. Selected topics include energy equity in the Carolinas and the health impacts of harmful algal blooms in the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound. For more information about these projects, visit the Office of Faculty Advancement’s press release.
Collaborative Research Planning Grants
As part of the 2025 Duke Research Summit, the Duke Office for Research & Innovation announced the call for proposals for the Duke Research Summit Collaborative Research Planning Grant. This grant provided facilitation services and project management support to allow selected teams to convene, strategize, and develop comprehensive research agendas. By addressing logistical barriers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and facilitating in-depth planning, this grant empowered teams to tackle complex research challenges effectively. The Duke Office of Climate & Sustainability partnered on this inaugural funding opportunity to provide facilitated research planning for teams focusing on research that aligns with the Duke Climate Commitment. To learn more about the funded teams, visit the Office of Research & Innovation’s announcement.
Data Expeditions: Climate + Health
The Data Expeditions grants brought together interdisciplinary teams of 6-13 faculty researchers from across Duke to focus on timely, transdisciplinary challenges posed by climate change on human health. Two phases of funding from 2023-2025 supported research teams aiming to: 1) develop the necessary data infrastructure and literacy to generate knowledge about climate + health; 2) leverage partnerships with external experts and community-level organizations to ensure implementation and impact; and 3) innovate and translate discovery research to ensure findings are actionable and accessible. You can learn more about the funded teams on the Data Expeditions website.
University-Wide Collaboration Grants on Climate Change
In 2022, the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability announced the Collaboration Grants as the first funding opportunity associated with the research pillar of the Climate Commitment. These eight grants supported Duke faculty and research staff interested in convening new collaborative groups to tackle climate challenges related to energy transformation, climate and community resilience, environmental and climate justice, and/or data-driven climate solutions. Funded teams focused on diverse topics, including coastal resilience and sea level rise, the ethics of planetary engineering, and low-carbon methods of heating and cooling infrastructure. To learn more about each of the funded projects, visit the Nicholas Institute’s website.