New Faculty Collaborations Explore Emerging Areas From AI to Net Zero Energy
The Office of the Provost has awarded Intellectual Community Planning Grants to nine projects led by Duke faculty members based in seven schools and one institute.
These planning grants can be used to cover the cost of meeting venues, external speakers, event materials, books or other meeting costs, and/or exploratory research into potential collaborators.
Seed funding supports Duke’s strategic vision of empowering the boldest thinkers to take on pressing challenges and bring novel approaches to problem-solving.
2024-25 Intellectual Community Planning Grants
An Academic-Community Partnership to Address Firearm Violence
Lead: Schenita Randolph, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing
Core Members: Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing; Jay Pearson, H. M. Foundation Associate Professor of Public Policy; Ragan Johnson, Associate Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing
Expanding a community partnership that has focused on adolescents of color and parent-adolescent sexual health communication, this project will examine solutions to address firearm violence and develop an academic-community partnership that will yield funding and program sustainability.
Addressing the Black Maternal Health Crisis in North Carolina through Engaging Bioethics, Healthcare and Black Churches
Lead: Wylin Wilson, Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics
Core Members: Charity Watkins, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Associate Professor in Medicine; Martha Carlough, Visiting Professor at Divinity School
This new research collaboration group plans to organize four Black maternal health (BMH) forums with individuals from faith communities and grassroots organizations. Participants will engage in roundtable discussions and strategy sessions on developing a multifaceted approach to BMH.
Assessing Student Learning in Quantitative Undergraduate Courses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Lead: Suzanne Crifo, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Mathematics
Core Members: Jack Bookman, Professor of the Practice Emeritus of Mathematics; Maria Tackett, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Statistical Science; Drew Hilton, Professor of the Practice in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cosponsored by Duke Learning Innovation & Lifetime Education
This project will consider the question, “How can we assess student learning in quantitative undergraduate courses in the age of AI?,” beginning with what is being done locally and nationally. Members will also explore avenues of support at NSF.
Critical Information Literacy in the Age of Misinformation
Lead: Charlotte Asmuth, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Thompson Writing Program
Core Members: Linda Daniel, Teaching and Learning Strategist, Duke Libraries; Hannah Davis, Lecturer, Thompson Writing Program; Ira King, First-Year Experience Librarian, Lilly Library; Rhiannon Scharnhorst, Lecturer, Thompson Writing Program; Hannah Taylor, Lecturer, Thompson Writing Program
Cosponsored by Duke Learning Innovation & Lifetime Education
This group seeks to explore students’ information-seeking and reading habits in light of new technology such as ChatGPT. Members aim to create and sustain a community at the intersections of information literacy, writing pedagogy and reading studies.
Critical Minerals and Energy Transition Interest Group
Lead: Leanne Gilbertson, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Core Members: Avner Vengosh, Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Environmental Quality; Heileen Hsu-Kim, Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Stefan Zauscher, Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; Miaofang Chi, Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; Olivier Delaire, Associate Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Cosponsored by Duke Climate Commitment
Members will identify new connections and establish an intellectual community of Duke researchers with shared motivation to tackle one of the most vexing challenges facing engineering, science and society: critical minerals and energy transition toward a sustainable energy future.
Cultivating Climate Health Leadership: Duke’s Path Forward
Lead: Ashley Ward, Director, Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
Core Members: Chris Beyrer, Professor of Medicine; Robert Tighe, Associate Professor of Medicine; Norman Wirzba, Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology
Cosponsored by Duke Climate Commitment
Faculty and researchers across Duke share an intellectual interest in exploring the intersection of climate and human health. The project will explore that intersection through interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to advance actionable research toward a comprehensive climate-health portfolio.
Facilitating Connections to Translate Science: Duke Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research Group
Lead: Kimberly Hreha, Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery
Core Members: Laura Pietrosimone, Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery; Timothy Faw, Medical Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Given the expansive time lag between research and clinical practice, this group aims to disseminate rehabilitation research efficiently to many stakeholders and facilitate intentional opportunities for collaboration and connections.
Public Data Catalyst Network
Lead: Shana McAlexander, Assistant Research Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Core Members: Mark Wiesner, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; David Carlson, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Leanne Gilbertson, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Jian Pei, Arthur S. Pearse Distinguished Professor of Computer Science
Additional Members: Nathan Bossa, Research Scientist in Civil & Environmental Engineering; Jon Reifschneider, Executive Director, AI for Product Innovation Master of Engineering Program; Ashley Ward, Director, Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability; Lee Tiedrich, Executive in Residence in the Pratt School of Engineering; Scott Whiteman, Community Planning Manager for City of Durham/Durham County
The network will convene researchers, educators and Durham community members to stimulate knowledge-sharing and grant project development for promoting data-driven decision making in the public sector.
Undergraduate Learning Assistants in STEM
Lead: Kelly Hogan, Professor of the Practice of Biology
Core Members: Charlie Cox, Associate Professor of the Practice of Chemistry; Kristen Stephens, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Program in Education; Morgan Carney, Instructional Staff in the Program in Education
Cosponsored by Duke Learning Innovation & Lifetime Education
This project aims to create a faculty learning community that works to support and improve undergraduate education through discussion and sharing of strategies that can be implemented in a variety of classes.
Main image: Schenita Randolph, Wylin Wilson, Suzanne Crifo, Charlotte Asmuth, Leanne Gilbertson, Ashley Ward, Kimberly Hreha, Shana McAlexander, Kelly Hogan