Bass Connections Invites Proposals for 2026-2027 Projects by November 3
Bass Connections is now accepting proposals for 2026-2027 projects that engage faculty, undergraduates and graduate/professional students in the interdisciplinary exploration of complex societal challenges. Please see the project proposal guidelines. The deadline to propose a project is November 3 at 5 p.m. All proposals must be submitted through the online proposal form.
Projects may be proposed in relation to one or more of the six broad, interdisciplinary themes of Bass Connections, or to Bass Connections Open.
- Brain & Society
- Energy & Environment
- Global Health (including U.S. health disparities)
- Health Policy & Innovation
- Information, Society & Culture
- Race & Society
- Bass Connections Open
Bring Your Questions to Drop-in Office Hours
Interested project leaders, particularly those who have never led a Bass Connections team, are encouraged to contact a Bass Connections theme leader or Meghan O'Neil (Interim Director, Bass Connections) with questions or to discuss potential project ideas. You may also drop in at any time to one of our informal Zoom office hours (https://duke.zoom.us/my/bassconnections):
- Tuesday, September 16, 1-2 p.m.
- Friday, October 3, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Thursday, October 16, 9-10 a.m.
Special Opportunities for 2026-2027
When completing a proposal, faculty may choose to take advantage of the following opportunities. Please note that applying for these opportunities will not increase your project budget, but rather may increase the likelihood that your project will be selected by allowing us to leverage funds designated for a specific purpose.
- Summer programs and experiences: We encourage teams to consider connecting their project with a summer program to jump-start or extend the team’s work through existing mechanisms. In particular, we encourage projects connected to DukeEngage or any summer “Plus” program.
- Applicants may submit a joint proposal for a Data+ Summer 2026 project linked to a year-long Bass Connections project through this RFP. You do not need to complete a separate application for Data+. Data+ is also accepting proposals for Climate+, a theme within Data+ focused on applying data-driven approaches to climate, environment and energy research. Please note that if you hope to link a Bass Connections project to a Data+ team for Summer 2027, you will need to apply for Data+ in the next round.
You do not need to include Data + expenses in the enclosed budget template, which is for year-long teams only. Please note that funding decisions will be made by each program individually, so it is possible that your proposal may be accepted for only Data+ or only Bass Connections. Please contact us if you want to discuss how other faculty have linked these experiences in the past. Please contact Greg Herschlag with questions specific to Data+.
- Ethical inquiry: Funds are available to support projects that incorporate an in-depth exploration of ethical issues, with a preference for interdisciplinary projects that incorporate the humanities. If you are interested in discussing ideas for potential projects, please contact David Toole. Faculty who wish to propose projects under this rubric should indicate that their project is connected to ethical inquiry on the first section of the proposal form.
- Arts & Humanities: Funds are available to support projects in any area of research in the arts and the humanities, including projects that bring core humanistic research questions and methods to bear on Bass Connections thematic areas. If you are interested in discussing ideas for potential humanities projects, please contact Christina Chia. Faculty who wish to propose projects under this rubric should indicate that their project is connected to arts/humanities on the first section of the proposal form.
Learn More
- Read the 2026-2027 project proposal guidelines.
- See our FAQs and browse reflections from faculty who have led Bass Connections projects.
- Look at the range of current project teams funded for 2025-2026.