DURHAM, N.C. – Researchers from the Nicholas School of the Environment will lead 12 newly announced Bass Connections interdisciplinary research projects for the 2018-19 academic year.

The Bass Connections program brings together faculty and students from disciplines across Duke University’s campus to explore and pursue novel solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing society and our planet today.

Sixteen core Nicholas School faculty members, three postdoctoral associates and one visiting fellow will lead new projects on topics including energy economics, the Endangered Species Act, global health, environmental justice, marine conservation, water quality and tropical ecology.

Duke graduate and undergraduate students alike can apply to become a member of a team. Applications open Jan. 24 and run through Feb. 16. Most projects last for two semesters; some have a summer component. Course credit and summer funding are available.

The newly announced projects to be led by Nicholas School researchers are:

• “Coal in America: Chronicling and Analyzing its Economic and Society History,” led by Lori Bennear, Grainger Associate Professor of Energy Economics and Policy, and Brian Murray, research professor of environmental economics.


• “ACRE-Duke Partnership to Improve Sanitation Access in Lowndes County, Alabama,” led by Erika Weinthal, Lee Hill Snowdon Professor of Environmental Policy, Megan Mullin, associate professor of environmental politics, and Elizabeth Albright, assistant professor of the practice of environmental science and policy methods.


• “Energy and Environment: Design and Innovation,” by Emily Klein, professor of earth sciences.


• “Developing Rapid, Cost-Effective Methods for Evaluating Coastal Biodiversity and Resilience,” led by David Johnston, associate professor of the practice of marine conservation ecology, and postdoctoral associate Justin Ridge.


• “Rethinking the Endangered Species Act’s Implementation on Private, Working Lands,” led by Robert Bonnie, Rubenstein Fellow.


• “DECIPHER: Case Studies in Drinking Water Quality,” led by Lori Bennear, Grainger Associate Professor of Energy Economics and Policy, Richard Di Giulio, Sally Kleberg Professor of Environmental Toxicology, Martin Doyle, professor of river systems science and policy, and Lee Ferguson, associate professor of environmental chemistry and engineering.


• “Marine Microalgae for Sustainable Production of Food and Fuel,” led by Zackary Johnson, Arthur P. Kaupe Associate Professor of Molecular Biology in Marine Science, Dalia Patiño-Echeverri, Gendell Associate Professor of Energy systems and Public Policy, and postdoctoral associate Bailey Slagle.


• “How Do People Affect Zoonotic Disease Dynamics in Madagascar?” led by Randall Kramer, Juli Plant Grainger Professor of Global Environmental Health.


• “Ocean Evidence Gap Map,” led by Lisa Campbell, professor of marine affairs and policy, and Brian Silliman, Rachel Carson Associate Professor of Marine Conservation Biology.


• “Mega-Gardeners of Tropical Forests: Modeling Seed Dispersal by Forest Elephants,” led by John Poulsen, assistant professor of tropical ecology, and postdoctoral associate Christopher William Beirne.


• “From the Ground Up: The Business and Policy Landscape for Energy Access in East Africa,” led by Dalia Patiño-Echeverri, Gendell Associate Professor of Energy systems and Public Policy.


• “Smart Archaeology,” led by David Johnston, associate professor of the practice of marine conservation ecology.

Nicholas School PhD students and faculty members with secondary or adjunct appointments at the school will also help lead some of the projects.

For a full list of new Bass Connections projects for the 2018-19 academic year, go here.

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