Explore the 2019-2020 Bass Connections Projects

Duke students from all levels and schools are invited to check out the new Bass Connections projects for 2019-2020. Applications will open on January 22 and will be due on February 15 by 5:00 p.m. Please use our online application. All interested students can learn more about new project teams by talking to faculty and staff team leaders at the Bass Connections Fair on January 22.
Bass Connections is a university-wide initiative that brings students and faculty together to tackle complex societal challenges. Working in interdisciplinary research teams, students of all levels collaborate with faculty, postdocs and outside experts to conduct cutting-edge research.
Students gain greater exposure to inquiry across the disciplines, partner with unlikely fellow thinkers and receive sustained mentorship in an ambitious team-based environment. Bass Connections project teams also engage with a diverse array of local and global partners, including nonprofits, universities, school systems, hospitals, government agencies and private companies.
In 2019-2020, Bass Connections will host 60 project teams. Project teams last for two semesters, and some include a summer component. Course credit and summer funding are available.
Browse the 2019-2020 Projects by Theme
- Brain & Society
- Information, Society & Culture
- Global Health
- Education & Human Development
- Energy & Environment
- Bass Connections Open
Each project team page contains a detailed project description, anticipated outputs, student opportunities, timelines and team leaders.
Bring Your Questions to the Bass Connections Fair on January 22
Students of all levels are encouraged to stop by the annual Bass Connections Fair on Tuesday, January 22, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Penn Pavilion.
At the Bass Connections Fair, students can talk with project team leaders, advisors, theme representatives and students who have previously been on project teams to learn more about new project opportunities and the benefits of participation.
Students can also talk with representatives from the Story+ and Data+ summer programs and learn more about the new projects for this summer.
Create Your Own Path
Need some help planning your pathway through Bass Connections? Undergraduates can seek guidance from Duke’s Directors of Academic Engagement, who offer individualized, hour-long advising appointments to guide students through the process of integrating Bass Connections into their academic plans.
Students of all levels are also encouraged to reach out to members of the Bass Connections Student Advisory Council, who can answer questions and offer insights about their experiences.
Learn More
- Learn how project teams work.
- Browse stories from students about their Bass Connections experience.
- Explore the benefits of participation for students of all levels.
- See how students have leveraged their Bass Connections research for theses and dissertations.
- View examples of publications and other outputs resulting from project teams.
- Read the Bass Connections Annual Report.