Leaves’ Pores Explain Longstanding Mystery of Uneven Tree Growth in a Carbon-Enriched World
The mechanics of how water and carbon dioxide move in and out of plants greatly affects how trees grow in a carbon-dioxide-enriched environments.
Signature Research Topics
Creating a healthier, safer and more sustainable world
Duke’s civil and environmental engineering research efforts focus on complex earth, water and built systems. With collaborators around the globe, we apply engineering methods to find solutions to significant challenges—aiming for a healthier, safer and more sustainable world.
Major Research Areas
Computational Mechanics & Scientific Computing
Developing precise algorithms to study and solve complex problems governed by the laws of mechanics.
Environmental Health Engineering
Studying connections between human health and ecosystem health, to understand risks and to build resilience in both.
Geomechanics & Geophysics for Energy and the Environment
Exploring issues in underground engineering, resource use and environmental hazards.
Hydrology & Fluid Dynamics
Focused on fundamental problems and critical challenges in fluid dynamics and water resources.
Risk & Resilient Systems
Seeking new and better ways to estimate and quantify the dynamics and uncertainty in engineered and natural systems.
Latest Research News
Harnessing Energy Under Our Feet
The Duke Climate Collaboration Symposium explored the history of geothermal energy at Duke and accelerate its use along the East Coast.
Uncovering the Source of Widespread ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination in North Carolina
Story behind the discovery in North Carolina’s Haw River watershed offers insights and raises concerns for other communities dealing with high levels of PFAS