To meet the growing demand for climate and sustainability education among alumni and working professionals, Duke University developed new Coursera courses this year. The series connects climate topics to diverse professional fields. All courses are free to Duke students, alumni and employees, and are designed to be flexible, self-paced and approachable with no prior expertise required. Courses include:
- Climate Science for Everyone, taught by Prasad Kasibhatla, professor of environmental chemistry and senior associate dean of research and doctoral programs in the Nicholas School, which debuted in August 2024
- Environmental Leadership, taught by Sam Hanna, instructor in the division of Environmental Social Systems in the Nicholas School, released in January 2025
- Climate and Health for Healthcare Professionals, co-taught by Valerie Sabol, clinical professor and inaugural director of planetary health in the School of Nursing, and Denise Nepveux, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery in the School of Medicine, launched in April 2025.
Together, the three courses also form the Healthcare Leadership for Climate Change Specialization, available since April 2025. The new offerings build on Duke’s Climate Commitment to equip learners everywhere with the knowledge and skills to address climate change in their careers and communities. LEARN MORE.