Led by the Office of Climate and Sustainability, the Sustainability and Climate Applied Learning (SCALe) program situates Duke University as a living backdrop for sustainability and climate change education, leveraging the campus as a living testbed for real-world problem-solving. Through special projects, course-based projects, and internships, the SCALe program cultivates transformative learning collaborations between students, faculty and staff to address real-world challenges and opportunities at Duke.
In early 2025, 10 teams were awarded with a SCALe Mini Grant. Projects ranged from a Wellness Garden led by Duke Physician Assistant students, to a Climate Sensing Station at the Campus Farm, to an educational campaign with Duke Dining to reduce waste at campus eateries. Several courses partnered with the SCALe program to identify campus-based climate or sustainability-themed problems as the basis for course projects and team-based learning. SCALe course projects ranged from Assessing Duke Athletics Field Irrigation Efficiency to Identifying Sustainable Procurement Strategies for Student Affairs.
The new SCALe Spotlight series also launched in late 2024, highlighting the stories of campus sustainability champions for their commitments to sustainability and climate education through applied teaching, learning and action. Read the 2024-2025 SCALe Impact Report.