Bass Connections, a university-wide initiative that facilitates interdisciplinary teams in exploring societal challenges, is calling for proposals from Duke faculty, graduate and professional students, post-docs, trainees and fellows for new project teams starting in summer 2018 or the 2018-2019 academic year. The application process began September 5 and closes November 3, 2017.
Bass Connections 101
Bass Connections brings together Duke faculty and students to explore real-world issues in interdisciplinary teams. For some faculty, Bass Connections funds a pilot research project that lays the groundwork for external grant proposals. For others, the program offers an innovative teaching model and an opportunity to mentor students in a small group atmosphere. And some faculty view Bass Connections as an opportunity to initiate or deepen engagement with a community organization or other collaborators outside of Duke who can provide input into the development of research questions and translate findings into action.
Launched by a $50 million gift from Anne and Robert Bass in 2013, Bass Connections was created with the vision to create a distinctive new model for education that actively engages both graduate and undergraduate students to tackle some of the world’s unanswered questions. Projects are aligned with five themes from Duke’s top interdisciplinary institutes and initiatives:
- Global Health
- Brain and Society
- Information, Society and Culture
- Education and Human Development
- Energy and Environment
This year, the program is also accepting proposals that don’t fall squarely into one of the five themes—an option called “Bass Connections Open.”
Special Funding Opportunities
This year, in addition to their general request for proposals, Bass Connections is accepting project proposals that specifically focus on ethics, the arts, humanities, biodiversity conservation and sustainable energy transitions.
Learn More
- Learn more about Bass Connections.
- Contact Paul Bendich (bendich@math.duke.edu) to discuss project proposals.