Interdisciplinary Faculty-Student Research

In February we are featuring Bass Connections as part of an exploration of research that crosses boundaries. This program facilitates interdisciplinary research that brings together faculty members, students, and subject-matter expertise from across Duke University. This month they will share what they’ve learned and offer resources to Methodspace readers interested in starting their own faculty-student research projects.

In this interview, Laura Howes, Director and Ed Balleisen, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies, introduce the project and kick off a series of posts that will include interviews with faculty and student researchers, lessons learned, as well as links to guides and templates.

Bass Connections: Integration of Research, Teaching and Engagement

Vision: To create a distinctive new model for education, predicated on collaborative and interdisciplinary inquiry, that actively engages students in the exploration of big, unanswered questions about major societal challenges.

Bass Connections brings together faculty, postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates and external partners to tackle complex societal challenges in interdisciplinary research teams. Teams establish three core connections:

• Across areas of disciplinary expertise

• Across learner levels (undergraduate, master/professional, doctoral and medical students)

• Between the academy and the broader world.

In year-long project teams, students and faculty engage in interdisciplinary, collaborative research that explores complex societal issues; some teams add a summer component.

From the Bass Connections website

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