Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability

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Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability

🌎⚡️ Fueling ambitions. Powering networks. Accelerating solutions. ⚡️🌎 Learn more about the Duke Climate Commitment: https://climate.duke.edu

The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University accelerates solutions to critical energy and environmental challenges, advancing a more just, resilient and sustainable world. The Nicholas Institute conducts and supports actionable research and undertakes sustained engagement with policymakers, businesses and communities—in addition to delivering transformative ed

ucational experiences to inspire and equip future leaders. Learn more about the Nicholas Institute: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu

Sign up for email updates: https://bit.ly/niemail

The Nicholas Institute’s work is aligned with the Duke Climate Commitment, which unites the university’s education, research, operations and external engagement missions to address the climate crisis.

08/31/2026

Blue Devils, connect with Duke’s energy and environment community at the Fall Mixer & BBQ on Thursday, September 3! RSVP: duke.is/sept3bbq

Join us at Gross Hall to mingle with new and returning students, faculty, and staff, and enjoy tasty BBQ (including vegetarian options). You’ll also be able to connect with energy & enviro orgs from across campus who’ll be tabling.

C’mon out and bring a pal—we can’t wait to see you!

P.S. New to the energy and environment community at Duke? Catch the 30-minute info session happening right before the mixer from 5:30-6 p.m. Get the lowdown on relevant opportunities, how the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability can support you, and how to connect with the community. RSVP: duke.is/sept3welcome.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL!
Get the scoop on several other events this month… DETAILS & REGISTRATION: nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/events

➡️ Friday, September 4, 1:30-3 p.m.
Power Trip: West Campus Chiller Plant #2

➡️ Thursday, September 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Energy and Development in India: From National Policy to Local Impact
The Generator (Gross Hall 100C)

➡️ Thursday, September 10, 5:30-7 p.m.
Power Up Session 1: Intro to Energy Science & Technology
Leaman Classroom, Fuqua School of Business

➡️ Thursday, September 17, 5:30-7 p.m.
Power Up Session 2: Intro to Policy’s Role in the Clean Energy Transition
Leaman Classroom, Fuqua School of Business

08/20/2026

Duke students help shape more resilient utility systems across North Carolina. ⚡️

This past spring, 20 Duke University students in a unique practicum course worked in interdisciplinary teams with utility partners on real-world climate and sustainability challenges. Read more about the practicum: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/articles/students-partner-nc-utilities-navigate-climate-challeng…

The course was co-taught by Duke University Climate Leader in Residence Jeff Hughes with Luana Lima (Duke Environment) and Sara Oliver (Duke Engineering). Partners included Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), Duke Energy, Tideland Electric, and Duke Facilities Management.

The student team that worked with Tideland Electric Membership Corporation traveled to remove Ocracoke Island to study the vulnerability of the cooperative’s electric infrastructure on Ocracoke, where coastal erosion and seal-level rise pose growing challenges. At the end of the semester, all teams presented their findings alongside their partners, sharing actionable research to help inform utility decisions for the future.

Swipe to see the Tideland team in the field and all other practicum teams with their partners following their final presentations.

07/06/2026

☀️🧊 It’s hot. Stay safe. Check out these research-based strategies for keeping cool when you lack A/C. (And if you have A/C but are limiting its use, focus on cooling your bedroom at night!) Get more heat safety resources at duke.is/heatsafety

06/24/2026

Duke grad students and upper-level undergrads, apply by Friday, June 26 (11:59 p.m. ET) for the U.N. Climate Change Negotiations Practicum this fall. The course includes travel to in Türkiye and is open to students in all Duke degree programs!

Learn more and apply: duke.is/unfccc26

Haven’t decided if you want to apply? Check out photos and reflections from the fall 2025 cohort, who traveled to in Brazil: duke.is/cop30photo

Aashish Yadav, a Duke Environment graduate student, shared reflections during COP30:

“[During the practicum] I spent a few weeks in a simulation representing the G77+China, drafting our positions, and learning the theory of its consensus-building. Yesterday, I was living it. I had a brief, incredible chat with one of the [Iraqi] delegates … about how the G77 (134+ countries!) actually comes to a consensus, its powerful role at COP, and its key agendas. To see the theory from my class play out in real-time, right next to the chairing delegation, was one of the richest experiences of my life.”

06/17/2026

Duke students recently visited Duke Forest this month as part of their summer Climate+ project efforts to evaluate the recent restoration of New Hope Creek.

This summer, Duke undergrads will use LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and high-resolution drone imagery to track changes in the creek before and after barrier removal that disrupted stream flow. The work restored aquatic habitat connectivity for threatened mussels and host fish. 🐟

The students will provide Duke Forest staff with a reproducible analysis workflow they can use for the next five to seven years of monitoring while gaining practical experience in geospatial data science, remote sensing, and scientific communication.

TL;DR: These Climate+ students will finish their summer research by contributing to a long-term conservation effort in one of Duke’s most valued teaching and research landscapes. 💪☀️

Swipe to see if you can spot the slithery friend the students met on the site visit. Any guesses on what type of snake it is? 🐍

06/11/2026

DukeEngage program students are in the U.S. Virgin Islands this summer mapping climate risks to build island resilience.

Launched in summer 2025 and led by Ashley Ward (director of Duke’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub), this project partners with the Government of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), the University of Virgin Islands (UVI), and VIISION.

Ten Duke students will build upon the work of their summer 2025 program peers to collect field data on heat, stormwater infrastructure, and walkability. What’ll they do with this data? At the end of the summer, the students will compile and digitize stormwater inventories, and produce maps, videos, and interpretive signage that will inform territorial planning and community outreach.

They’ll also be working with community groups and local youth on projects that combine environmental action with cultural and historic preservation.

Stay tuned as we follow their summer experience, meet their partners, and learn why this work is important.

Learn more about the project at duke.is/USVI

06/09/2026

Duke graduate and upper-level undergraduates can apply by Friday, June 26, for the Fall 2026 course: United Nations Climate Change Negotiations Practicum (ENVIRON 592/PUBPOL 592). The course is designed for students interested in international climate change policy and developing analytical thinking skills with hands-on learning. You will also get the chance to travel to Antalya, Türkiye, for the 2026 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties ( ) this November. Learn more and apply: duke.is/unfccc26

05/29/2026

Faith communities in the Carolinas are often on the front lines of care during extreme heat. Through ’s Cooling Communities project, new ministry resources are available to help congregations further support their neighbors as temperatures rise. Explore the story and resources at duke.is/heatministry

05/21/2026

The Duke Plus Programs are underway for the summer! ☀️

This marks the fifth year of Climate+, a 10-week research experience focused on real-world climate and environmental challenges. This summer, 31 undergrad and grad students are participating across 9 Climate+ project teams. expert Lydia Olander is co-leading one of those projects on data-driven valuation of flood resilience investments. 🌊

PLUS! The Nicholas Institute is co-sponsoring a History+ project led by expert Tom Cinq-Mars. The project will document the lives of enslaved millers and laborers connected to the Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh, NC.

We’re excited to see the results of this summer research experience!

05/19/2026

It’s North Carolina Heat Safety Week—and many in NC will experience extreme heat, especially on Wednesday, 5/20. How can you keep cool without A/C? Check out these research-based strategies from ’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub.

Address

140 Science Drive
Durham, NC
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Telephone

+19196131305

Website

https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/

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