There has never been a more important time to be an engineer.
Technology, when paired with human talent, is among the most powerful forces for advancing the common good. At Duke Engineering, we believe engineering exists to serve society—and this is our moment to lead.
Our Vision: Engineers boldly creating an innovative, smart, healthy, and sustainable society that uplifts all people.
As a profession in service to society, we must ask two questions: First, what type of societal transformation do we want to achieve, and second, what role do we want to play in achieving that goal?
Jerome P. Lynch, PhD, F.EMIVinik Dean of Engineering
We uplift every community through inclusive engineering — creating pathways to opportunity and a sense of belonging for all.
Everyone has a role to play.
This vision is not a checklist. It’s a shared commitment.
Bringing it to life will take everyone in our community —faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners—contributing their expertise, creativity, and focus.
Whether you’re teaching in the classroom, leading research, mentoring a student, or supporting operations behind the scenes, your work matters.
The challenges ahead are real. So is our opportunity to share what comes next.
And at Duke Engineering, we don’t just imagine what’s possible.
I could not be more excited to share with you Duke Engineering’s 2025 Strategic Vision!
The foundation of my life’s work as an engineer is my unwavering belief in the good of technology. There are countless examples of technology as a force for good: Our cell phones ensure we never get lost in a new city, wearable glucose sensors keep a diabetic family member healthy, and agentic artificial intelligence helps us automate workflows in our jobs. While my professional oath requires me to advance technology for the good of society, it is my engineering instinct that inspires me to solve the most complex and seemingly intractable global challenges of our time.
History is often viewed as the story of how global forces led to societal transformation. What makes this moment so historic is the emergence of strong technological forces converging with economic, political, and environmental forces that will rapidly transform our society. Technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital assets all have the potential to lead to a transformation that improves our quality of life and ensures future generations are prosperous. At the same time, these technological forces can also accelerate global challenges such as warfare, wealth disparities, and environmental degradation if we are not careful. As a profession in service to society, we must ask two questions: First, what type of societal transformation do we want to achieve, and second, what role do we want to play in achieving that goal?
In these pages, you find the strategic vision of the Pratt School of Engineering, which fundamentally answers these two questions. Duke engineers are committed to creating a society where community members are healthy, culture inspires innovation, operations are based on “smart” technology, the built environment is sustainable, and all community members are uplifted. The vision offers insights into the role we will play in achieving a healthy, innovative, smart, sustainable, and uplifting society. Specifically, it offers a look into many of our education, research, and outreach activities that align with these five societal attributes.
As a university, our role is also to prepare tomorrow’s technological leaders to drive these changes forward. At Duke, we aim to produce leaders who are not only professionally competent but also socially engaged and considerate of the ethical and equity dimensions of the solutions being produced.
I hope our strategic vision inspires others to join us in this crusade to advance technology for the common good. Recent changes in the relationship between higher education and the public demand a collective recalibration to ensure we preserve the potency of our national innovation ecosystem. We stand ready to join together to solve the grand challenges we face while advancing a better society for all.
Enjoy!
Jerome P. Lynch, PhD, F.EMI Vinik Dean of Engineering Duke University
