The Just Peace Lab is a new experiential program at Duke University in which student teams work on real-world research projects for the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) in countries including Ethiopia, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. The Lab builds on the foundations of a multi-year Duke–IOM partnership that began in 2023, including a Bass Connections project on evidence-based humanitarian aid delivery in South Sudan.
Working directly with IOM counterparts throughout the semester, students refine research questions, identify feasible deliverables, and incorporate feedback on drafts. Team projects culminate in written deliverables — research reports, legal memos, and policy recommendations — delivered to the IOM.
Read more about the Just Peace Lab in this Bass Connections interview →