Community-Based Innovation Programs

This research grant explores community-led validation of a remote sensing and deep learning approach to identify cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms and toxins in the Chowan River and tris in the tributaries of the Albemarle Sound.

The purpose of the DBDP is to make discovering digital biomarkers more accessible. From the input of wearable sensor data to the development of machine learning algorithms, we provide an open source software resource for the digital biomarker community.

The Critical Minerals Hub uniquely integrates diverse dimensions of the complex critical mineral system into coherent interdisciplinary research and education ecosystem.

Duke Engineers for International Development

Partnering with communities to engineer solutions that improve living standards.

Student run organization that aims to connect amputees in the Durham area with 3D printed adaptive devices, free of cost.

Duke Ignite is an engineering design experience for Durham area middle and high school students. Ignite challenges students to work on problems in their communities, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

A seven-week summer experience for Durham Public Schools juniors and seniors interested in engineering and science.

Students design solutions for needs expressed by community organizations working in education, health care, the environment, and more.

This project’s objective is to create a sustainable system of CHAB surveillance and prediction that will support real-time public health advisories to limit community exposure and discover environmental neurotoxins that are associated with ALS.

An annual 24-hour coding sprint focused on solutions to societal challenges.

This program challenges students to use Human-Centered and Engineering Design processes to research problems related to the UN Global Goals of Clean Energy (Light Team), Clean Water (Water Team), or Good Health (Health Team).

mHealth Tympanometer

This research project focuses on developing a digital innovation to address preventable childhood hearing loss in low- and middle-income countries.

In partnership with Coastal Carolina Riverwatch (CCRW), this research, funded by the Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) program, focuses on detecting PFAS and heavy metals in oyster populations within the White Oak River Basin (WORB).

This grant-funded project explores the sources and fate of PFAS in public drinking waters of North Carolina impacted by firefighting and textile operations.

Engineering students improve accessibility for physically challenged children by fixing and modifying toys.

This challenge calls for solutions that could operate “off the grid” without connections to water, sewer or electricity, and that could transform liquid and solid waste into valuable resources such as disinfected water and energy.

The LIFT Lab partnered with Purpose Learning Lab to bring hands-on STEAM activities to 19 students in grades 1-8. Students from our Bass Connections class implemented two innovative activities they designed.

In partnership with Durham Public Schools, students and their teachers participate in an introductory engineering design activity and use rapid prototyping tools (3-D printing, laser cutting, and Arduino programming) to design and create devices.

Acceler8 is an all-day career expo that is focused on simulating real-world interactions for 8th graders in Durham Public Schools. Through guided activities, students learned how ecosystems function, how humans impact the environment, and how engineers design solutions to mitigate challenges such as flooding, drought, and soil erosion.

This interactive STEM workshop brings engineering lessons and hands-on experimentation to students and allows them to explore various topics including engineering design, career exploration, and more.

Members of the Pratt community develop and deliver sessions and activities that immerse K-12 students in learning and activities related to various engineering topics.

DPS/Duke Engineering STEM After-school Program

Duke Engineering faculty, staff, and students offer engaging, hands-on STEM activities to middle school students in Durham Public Schools during the ENCORE! After-school Program.

Duke Aviators is a student organization dedicated to sharing a passion for flying and aviation with the larger University and RTP community.

InnoWorks is a free, week-long STEM camp run entirely by college volunteers, connecting mentors with younger students to explore science through curiosity, creativity, and fun.

A seven-week summer experience for Durham Public Schools juniors and seniors interested in engineering and science.

This project curates, develops, and disseminates ready-to-go quantum learning materials, and supports cohorts of educators in every state to develop QISE knowledge and provides crucial information on viable methods for adapting quantum education to different localities.

e4usa provides a standardized educational curriculum for pre-college students to learn and demonstrate engineering principles, skills and practices.

FEMMES+ is student-led, with a mission to engage young students in STEM fields through hands-on activities and mentorship.

An annual event demonstrating STEM career possibilities through a day of hands-on fun for more than 140 middle schoolers and high schoolers.

GEM is a 10-day STEM camp for middle school students each summer. Each half-day we explore a rich, complex, and accessible math problem and visit the lab or clinic of a STEM woman on campus.

A free, 8-week hybrid program for Durham-area middle school students in partnership with the Museum of Life and Science. Students prototype solutions toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Clean Energy, Clean Water, or Good Health.

Duke’s state-of-the-science nanotech lab invites K-12 teachers and students to see an electron microscope in action or suit up for a visit to the cleanroom.

K-5 Advanced Manufacturing Curriculum

Through NSF-sponsored award, and in collaboration with STEM specialist Ms. Caroline Brickhouse, developing age-appropriate curriculum related to advanced manufacturing that is offered through the Exploration Lab special to all students at Lyons Farm Elementary School.

Provided to educators free of charge through Duke’s membership in the Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network.

K-12 and community college teachers spend five summer weeks working in microbiome science and engineering labs and developing lesson plans

The ODE Summer Design Camp is an immersive biomedical engineering design experience. Over the course of five weeks, participants will learn about the engineering design process and use it to solve real-world problems through a series of design workshops, labs, and innovation sessions.

The ODE Summer Design Camp for Teachers functions as a professional development and training opportunity for middle and high school STEM teachers. Teachers are invited to participate in the camp to learn engineering design alongside the students.