About the Institute | The Nicholas Institute

The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University improves environmental policymaking worldwide through objective, fact-based research in the areas of climate change, the economics of limiting carbon pollution, emerging environmental markets, oceans governance and coastal management and freshwater concerns at home and abroad.

The Nicholas Institute is part of Duke University and its wider community of world-class scholars. This unique resource allows the Nicholas Institute's team of economists, scientists, lawyers and policy experts to not only deliver timely, credible analyses to a wide variety of decision makers, but convene these individuals to discuss and achieve common understandings regarding this century's most pressing environmental problems.

Tim Profeta serves as director of the Nicholas Institute, which comprises the following six programs:

The Nicholas Institute is housed on Campus Drive on the Duke Campus, but also has staff in Duke's Washington, D.C. office and the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C.

Fast Facts

Established In:

2005

Founding Director:

Tim Profeta

Staff:

40 plus additional interdisciplinary research collaborations with faculty across Duke University units.

Students:

Research positions across our programs are available for students beginning each fall. Our staff also teach courses in Duke classrooms.

Board of Advisors:

Some of the foremost environmental leaders sit on the Nicholas Institute's Board of Advisors. This includes individuals from both the public and private sector, such as the CEO of Duke Energy, as well as the presidents of the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund.

Mission Statement:

To help decision makers create timely, effective, and economically practical solutions to the world’s critical environmental challenges.

Strategic Plan:

A five-year strategic plan for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions aims to invest in areas furthering its mission.