Current Courses at Duke University

POLSCI 128 Climate Change: A Political Economy Perspective

This class introduces students to climate change from a political economy perspective. It reviews the main scientific facts about it and how their evolution traces back to political and economic causes. The class will cover the political economy of climate change, using the framework of actors, interests, and institutions (domestic and international institutions), policies of different countries, including the EU and China, green finance, conflict, public opinion, and climate injustice.

POLSCI 555S Global Politics of AI

This course examines the global politics of artificial intelligence (AI). It covers the impact of AI on security and conflict, geopolitics, the economy, including finance and labor, and the environment. It examines the challenges of international cooperation and the race to develop AI technology, standards, and national regulations as well as the main actors, interests, and institutions.

Critical Minerals Projects

Data+ Critical Materials (Project co-lead, Summer 2026)

A team of students led by researchers in the Duke University Critical Minerals Hub will use data-driven methods to develop machine learning models that predict critical mineral presence and abundance in mine waste and acid mine drainage. Students will integrate large geological and geochemical datasets, identify key indicators of critical mineral presence in mine waste solids and water chemistry, and apply machine learning techniques to predict critical mineral abundance across diverse sites. Students will learn about data science methods, including model development, validation, interpretation, and visualization, in an interdisciplinary project that includes mining, environmental policy, and geochemical processes. This work will be foundational for the development of a decision-making tool to help guide researchers, policy makers, and industry professionals in the sustainable recovery of critical minerals needed to advance the clean energy transition.

Critical Minerals Nexus: Geosciences, Engineering and Policy (Bass Connections team co-leader, 2026-27)

This project team will collaborate with the Duke Critical Minerals Hub to create a Critical Minerals Index (CMI) – an interactive “heat map” and data platform that integrates geoscience, engineering, environmental and policy information about critical minerals across their entire life cycle.

Through this work, the team will analyze the physical, environmental, commercial and governance dimensions of mineral extraction, processing and use. Team members will draw on data from multiple disciplines and sources to track how minerals are classified as “critical” across countries and how their extraction impacts ecosystems and communities.

Team members will also engage directly with industry and community partners by conducting interviews, surveys and site visits to mining, processing and manufacturing facilities. These experiences will help students understand the real-world trade-offs among energy security, technological innovation, environmental impact and social justice.