Off the Top...

Celebrate Democracy Day Friday!

Democracy Day is a university-wide event that promotes civic engagement amongst the students, administrators, and faculty of Duke University. The event features a series of programming across the Bryan Center Plaza and Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center on Friday, November 1st.

Check out the projected schedule:

March to the Polls from BC Plaza to Karsh Alumni Center; Party at the Polls: All Day!
Screen Printing: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM at BC Stage
Votechella: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at BC Stage
Special Speaker Event Featuring Durham Mayor Leo Williams and Frank Bruni
Civic Engagement Fair: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Chartering our Future: A Democracy Day Dinner Discussion with Duke Dems & The Ciceronian Society: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

A Year in Review: AI and Cybersecurity @ Duke

Over the last year, Duke University has continued its efforts to be at the forefront of AI development and policy, actively engaging with policymakers and industry leaders to promote responsible AI innovation. Experts from various departments have participated in national discussions, including a panel at a cybersecurity conference and the NSF AI Showcase. Duke's collaborative efforts and research initiatives position it as a key player in shaping AI policies that align with societal needs and ethical standards.

AI Review

Celebrating the Centennial...

Then and Now: Gothic Reading Room

Located on the second floor of the Rubenstein Library, the Gothic Reading Room’s high ceiling allows space for arched windows, bookshelves, chandeliers and portraits of prominent Duke figures, including Washington Duke, James Buchanan Duke, and Benjamin Newton Duke. And as they do today, students in the 1930s turned to the Gothic Reading Room for a place to quietly study.

Then and Now

Federally Funded Research at Duke...

The Science of Smell:  Scientists Explore the Invisible World of Odors 

A new study reveals new insights into how our noses distinguish a wide range of odors, conducted by researchers from Duke University, UCSF, and City of Hope. The team created four model odorant receptors (ORs) based on the 400 human ORs and utilized advanced cryo-electron microscopy to capture detailed images of these receptors interacting with scent molecules. The findings indicate that the binding of odor molecules to receptors is dynamic and flexible, which may explain how a single OR can detect various scents. This research is a significant step towards understanding the complex mechanics of olfaction and the evolutionary adaptations of ORs.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Smell Science