Duke Partners with Diplomacy Lab

U.S. State Department program offers students unique research opportunities

-By Charles Givens

April 30, 2024

Duke University has joined the Diplomacy Lab, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State, offering students unique opportunities to engage in real-world research projects alongside diplomats and policymakers.

“It seems like a symbiotic relationship between Duke and the State Department,” said Jackson Ewing, Director of Energy and Climate Policy at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability. “We will be looking for policy-relevant projects for our students that can give them real world experiences, and these projects can help them deepen their networks and have exposure to practitioners.”

The Diplomacy Lab connects students with the U.S. State Department through a network of universities. Universities bid on projects proposed by State Department staff who need assistance with research and engagement activities. Student teams then work on these projects, gaining valuable experience while contributing to the State Department’s work.

Ewing sees this new partnership as a useful tool for all. “I don’t expect this to be something that lives with the Sanford School of Public Policy or is just for political science majors,” said Ewing. “I think it can be much wider than that. I think there will be business and finance opportunities. I think there will be engineering and infrastructure opportunities, too.”

“I WANT THIS TO LEAD TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT”

While the specifics of student involvement are still being determined, Ewing anticipates integrating Diplomacy Lab projects with existing academic programs at Duke, such as master’s projects and undergraduate honors theses.

“I want this to lead to experiential learning and network development, and I want lasting skill development and knowledge gains for students that would not have happened were we not part of the Diplomacy Lab,” Ewing stated.

The Office of Global Affairs will be working closely with Ewing and other faculty members to streamline the process and ensure students are aware of these new opportunities. Ewing expects the program to be fully operational by fall 2024.

“I think we have practicum-oriented structures in place that are going to align quite well, ultimately. I really believe there are dividends to be had here,” said Ewing.

The Diplomacy Lab partnership promises to be a valuable addition to Duke’s global engagement efforts, fostering meaningful collaborations between students, faculty and the State Department while contributing to addressing critical international issues.