PopUp Institutes

iiD PopUp Institutes center on topics of current scientific importance, driven by faculty from the mathematical and computational science community across the university, and feature a variety of activities and events over the course of several months.

PopUp Institute on Learning in Networks 2026

This fall, the PopUp Institute on Learning in Networks brings together researchers and students from statistics, economics, operations research, computer science, and related fields to advance the theory and practice of both learning from networked data and learning networks from data. The institute focuses on fundamental questions in statistical inference, machine learning, causal inference, and optimization on networks, with particular emphasis on statistical–computational tradeoffs, message-passing algorithms, learning dynamics, and network-based market design. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, the institute aims to develop new mathematical and algorithmic foundations for understanding complex networked systems and their applications. The institute is led by collaborators Jiaming Xu, Alex Belloni, Fan Wei, Galen Reeves, and James Moody.

Learning in Networks Activities

Join our Learning In Networks mailing list to stay up to date on activities, and check out the website for more information.

• Starting September 1, 2026
  • Reading Group and Seminar Series: Tuesdays, 12pm in 330 Gross Hall; lunch included
  • Tutorial Lecture Series: Tuesdays, 3:30-4:45pm in 318 Gross Hall; Tea provided at 3pm
• Bootcamp: September 4–5
  • Introductory lectures on core concepts, recent advances, and open problems in learning in networks.
  • Location:  Fuqua School – Geneen Auditorium
• Workshop 1: October 23–24
  • Research talks on statistical–computational tradeoffs, message-passing algorithms, and network inference.
  • Location:  330 Gross Hall
• Workshop 2: November 13
  • Research talks on causal inference, learning dynamics, and network-based market design.
  • Held in conjunction with the WORDS Conference on November 14.
  • Location:  Fuqua School – Geneen Auditorium
• PhD-Level Course:  BA990: Statistical inference on graphs (cross-listed with IDS)

PopUp Institute on Justice in AI 2026-27

The goal of the Justice in AI PopUp Institute is to bring together disparate groups on campus whose work is relevant to justice in AI and learn from each other as well was from outside visitors. It is organized by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong (Duke Philosophy) and Brandon L. Garrett (Duke Law). The Institute will focus on two kinds of justice in AI:

1. Distributive justice (or algorithmic fairness) when AI systems cause different groups in society to receive different levels of burdens or benefits; and
2. Procedural justice (or due process) concerns when uninterpretable (or black box) AI is used.

The faculty and graduate student affiliates of the Institute will present their own works-in-progress at monthly lunches from September 2026 through January 2027, to get to know each other better, provide feedback to improve current work, and promote collaboration. We will organize sessions on procedural justice at the annual SCAI Conference in February, as well as a companion events on distributive and procedural justice and AI. In March we will read and discuss articles by outside experts who will then speak at a 2-day workshop at Duke on Algorithmic Fairness and Distributive Justice in AI on April 8-9-, 2027. Speakers and affiliates of the Institute will include scholars from Philosophy, Law, Computer Science, Engineering, and related fields. We encourage interested faculty to reach out and participate.

Join our Justice in AI listserv to stay up to date on activities and check out the website for more information.

ACTIVITIES

Monthly lunches in Fall 2026
Dates:  8/31, 9/21, 10/26, 11/30, 1/27/27
Times:  12:30-2pm
Location:  330 Gross Hall

SCAI Conference 2027
Dates:  Feb 25-27
Location:  Duke University

Justice in AI Conference 2027
Dates:  April 8-9
Location:  330 Gross Hall

Each year the Rhodes IID sponsors several Pop-Up Institutes. Each Pop-Up Institute centers on a topic of current scientific importance driven by faculty in the mathematical and computational science community from across the university. Each Pop-Up Institute typically contains several elements spread over several months:

Other elements, such as long-term visitors or collaboration with other centers at Duke or nationally will be considered when available. The initial topics were chosen through conversations with the current IID community. In subsequent years, an open call will be made to solicit topics.

2026 Events

2026 Gene Golub SIAM Summer School on Fault-Tolerant Algorithms in Quantum Computing

July 27- August 7
Hosted by Di Fang
Location: Gross Hall 103
Application link
Application Deadline:  March 1, 2026

Duke University will host a summer school from July 27 to August 7, 2026, focused on introducing quantum algorithms and scientific computing. Designed for students without a background in quantum physics or quantum computing, the program covers fundamental principles and advanced techniques while providing financial support for travel and local expenses. Visit the 2026 Gene Golub SIAM Summer School website to learn more.

Digital Humanities Symposium

Sept. 25-26
GH 330
With: Astrid Giugni and Richard So

Richard So (Rhodes Bass Chair in English) and Astrid Giugni (SSRI, iiD, English) have agreed to develop a regional conference around AI, Computing and the Digital Humanities during the Spring of 2026. One of the goals is to sharpen the focus of a future Pop-Up Institute.