About the Nicholas Institute

In short, the Nicholas Institute’s mission is to become the nation’s leading source of effective solutions to critical environmental problems—by providing decision makers in the public and private sectors with unbiased evaluations of policy risks and rewards, and innovative, practical ideas for meeting complex challenges.

- Tim Profeta, Director, Nicholas Institute

Created in 2005, The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University seeks to_ _address some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems through scientifically grounded, rigorous, balanced nonpartisan policy analysis and broad-based dissemination of the Institute’s work. With the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, the Institute draws on the unparalleled resources of the Duke University community, from the nationally ranked Fuqua School of Business and the Duke Law School to the renowned Duke University Medical Center, the policy and engineering schools and other Duke resources, as well as on the considerable expertise of partners in industry, government, environmental organizations, and other academic institutions.

This combination has enabled the Nicholas Institute to become a leading policy institute with a core staff and resident faculty dedicated to helping frame the environmental agenda by focusing on important problems and helping develop and recommend effective policies based on unbiased information and careful analysis of the issues, including the politics surrounding policy problems.

The Institute works to provide a neutral forum for research and policy analysis in several critical areas – for example, energy, climate, water, habitat, and oceans policy – by convening individuals with specialized expertise and experience from a range of relevant sectors.

In addition, the Institute may tackle specific environmental issues for its partners in the corporate, non-governmental, and foundation sectors. Working with these partners, the Institute recruits top experts to develop results-driven programs and case studies to assist these organizations in addressing their particular environmental needs.

The Institute main office is located at 2117 Campus Drive on Duke University’s campus.