Duke University
ER-12: Sustainability Immersive Experience

Duke offers students two sustainability-focused immersive experiences: program sites focused on sustainability through DukeEngage, and environmentally related study abroad programs.

The DukeEngage program, launched in 2007, provides funding for Duke undergraduates who wish to pursue an immersive (minimum of eight weeks) service experience by meeting a community need locally, domestically, or internationally. Since the program began, more than 2400 Duke students have participated. Program sites with thematic areas in environmental advocacy and sustainability have been offered in the United States in Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington State, and internationally in Argentina, Ecuador, India, Jordan, Kenya, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and Uganda. These programs include environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Since 2010, DukeEngage has supported students in the "Managing Environmental Organizations" program in Portland, Oregon. This program is the first DukeEngage program that systematically fosters a holistic marriage of service to the environment with a personal commitment to voluntary simplicity and sustainable living. Students assess their carbon footprints through a personal carbon calculator, which tracks participants’ behavior and monitors electricity usage, modes of transportation, and dietary decisions. The Portland program educates students on ways to reduce their carbon footprint through the use of public transportation; maintaining a vegetarian, locally focused, organic diet; and additional environmentally focused lifestyle choices. The group also participates in environmental projects in Portland on the weekends to collectively offset carbon that is not eliminated through behavioral changes, including beach cleanups, community gardens, and tree planting.

Duke’s Study Abroad Office has approved environmentally related programs hosted by the School for International Training (http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/) and the School for Field Studies (http://www.fieldstudies.org/). There are a myriad of SIT programs in 17 different countries focused on sustainability issues in which Duke students can choose to participate as well as numerous SFS programs spanning a range of environmental topics. With approval, students can also take advantage of environmentally-focused programs offered through the ECOSA Institute (http://www.ecosainstitute.org/) and Living Routes (http://www.livingroutes.org/).