Norbert Wilson

A new study co-authored by Norbert Wilson explores how date labels influence consumer food waste. In an experimental auction, participants bid on deli meat and spaghetti sauce with “Best by,” “Use by,” or no label. While date labels affected willingness to pay and anticipated waste, their impact varied by product and consumer risk preferences. Loss-averse participants were more likely to discard food early, especially under “Use by.” The findings suggest standardized labels alone may not curb waste—policymakers should consider consumer education and new technologies, like freshness sensors, to help people make informed decisions.

Tim Profeta

As AI and data centers drive surging electricity demand, a new study finds the U.S. power system could absorb nearly 100 GW of new load—without costly upgrades—if flexible power use is adopted. Co-authored by Tim Profeta, the analysis from Duke University’s Nicholas Institute highlights how strategic load reductions during peak stress could accelerate grid integration and optimize investments. By leveraging onsite generation and operational shifts, regulators and market participants can enable rapid expansion while maintaining grid stability.

Gavin Yamey

As global health challenges evolve, so must PEPFAR, the U.S. government’s landmark HIV/AIDS program. A new policy brief co-authored by Gavin Yamey outlines key reforms to modernize PEPFAR, including expanding its focus beyond HIV to strengthen broader health systems. The brief calls for greater flexibility, better integration with local health programs, and sustainable financing to ensure long-term impact. As policymakers debate PEPFAR’s future, these recommendations highlight the opportunity to adapt and enhance its role in global health security.

William A. Darity Jr.

A new paper from Duke’s Samuel DuBois Cook Center refutes the idea that slavery-induced trauma is genetically passed down through generations. William A. Darity Jr. argues that the Black-white health gap stems from systemic racial disparities, not inherited trauma. Reviewing studies of epigenetic inheritance, Darity finds no evidence to support the transgenerational trauma hypothesis. The paper calls for a clearer focus on addressing the social and economic conditions that continue to disadvantage Black Americans today.

Sanford faculty members M. Giovanna Merli and Marcos Rangel, alongside Duke Sociology’s Hedy Lee, have been selected to lead and shape the future of Demography, the flagship journal of the Population Association of America. This appointment, starting July 1, 2025, underscores Duke University’s pivotal role in interdisciplinary population research. Read more about their leadership roles.

Sanford professors David Hoffman and Ronnie Chatterji will lead the Deep Tech initiative at Duke with OpenAI to produce a roadmap for how governments and academic institutions should incorporate AI into their research to accelerate the pace of new discoveries. Learn more about this new partnership.  

Joab Corey, senior lecturer at Sanford, has been awarded a grant from Duke’s Undergraduate Program Enhancement Fund (UPEF) to expand innovative teaching strategies in core economics courses. Backed by Duke’s Provost’s Office, the UPEF supports faculty-driven initiatives that enhance undergraduate experiential learning. Read more about his teaching innovations. 

What does it mean for democracy when a president owns a social platform, and is supported by others with major platforms of their own? Philip Napoli directs the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy at Duke University, and he joins Manoj Mohanan, interim public policy dean at Duke, to discuss historical parallels to the connection between policy and media ownership and regulation options. Listen here. 

What does it mean for the country that President Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education? Leslie Babinski, a researcher who focuses on education and former director of the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy talks about this extraordinary change with guest host Anna Gassman-Pines, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Listen to the explainer here. 

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