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Duke’s Early Voting Site Helps State Break Record for First Day of Voting
Early voting in North Carolina started Thursday with a record turnout of 353,166 people voting across the state. Duke’s Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center contributed to the record with 1175 people casting ballots on the first day, making the center one of the most active early voting sites in Durham County. Overall, 12,859 people voted in Durham on the first day, and turnout remained strong through the weekend, with Duke President Vincent Price voting on Friday. By Sunday evening, 38,820 people had voted at Durham early voting sites, highlighting the convenience of Karsh for both Duke students and the broader community. Early voting continues until Nov. 2, with specific hours for weekdays and weekends.
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Duke Reaches Important Milestone in Carbon Neutrality
Duke University announced this month that it has fulfilled its 2007 pledge to become carbon neutral by the year 2024, making it the first among its academic peers to achieve this milestone. Reaching this goal means there are no net greenhouse gas emissions on campus, achieving a 31 percent reduction since 2007, despite a 24 percent increase in population and 3 million square feet of new space. Significant investments in renewable energy, infrastructure improvements, and carbon offsets support this goal. Overall, these efforts involve hundreds of millions of dollars, which will be offset over time through reduced energy costs.
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| | Celebrating the Centennial...
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Then and Now: Dance
From the early years of Duke University, dance has been an important part of the arts scholarship and research on campus. At first an academic PE credit for first-year students at the Woman’s College, dance later developed into a full department with its home in the iconic Ark building on East Campus, expanding to the Rubenstein Arts Center in 2018. A long connection with the American Dance Festival has created national and international summer dance opportunities and visibility on campus for nearly 50 years. Courses that include African Dance, ballet, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, dance composition, dance for the camera and creative process are open to all Duke students.
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| | Federally Funded Research at Duke...
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Listening Skills Bring Human-Like Touch to Robots
Researchers at Duke University have developed a robotic system called SonicSense that gives robots a sense of touch by detecting vibrations, enabling them to identify materials and shapes similarly to human hands. This system features a robotic hand with four fingers, each equipped with contact microphones that record vibrations when interacting with objects, allowing for a richer understanding of their environment. SonicSense can quickly identify known objects using advanced AI, sometimes in as few as four interactions, and it outperforms previous systems by handling complex geometries and materials that challenge vision-based approaches. The innovation highlights the potential for robots to perceive the world in more human-like ways, enhancing their ability to interact with diverse objects.
This research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
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Bruni to Receive NC's Highest Honor
Frank Bruni, a Duke University faculty member and author, will receive North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award, presented by Governor Roy Cooper next month. Bruni, who joined Duke in 2021 after a notable 25-year career at The New York Times, is recognized for his contributions to literature and journalism. He is celebrated for his commitment to enriching the state and is a prominent figure at Duke's DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy. Bruni is also the author of five bestselling books and a significant advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, earning various accolades throughout his career.
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Duke Cyber Club Wins Back-to-Back International Competitions; Participates in Black Hat
Following two first-place wins at the 2024 Atlantic Council’s Cyber 9-12 Strategy Challenge, the Duke Cyber Club is starting its sixth academic year on a high note. In addition to monetary awards, eight members received tickets to the prestigious Black Hat cybersecurity event. The club, which has grown from a small team to a diverse organization of undergraduate and graduate students, is supported by various departments, including Pratt’s Cybersecurity Master of Engineering Program and the Sanford School of Public Policy. Duke Cyber Club provides opportunities for students to learn, engage with professionals, enhance their skills, and participate in competitions both locally and nationally.
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