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Global Research

Research focused on solving global problems.

Our Global Impact

Northwestern University is dedicated to collaborating with the best organizations and scholars in the world to advance cutting-edge research and help solve our most intractable global problems.

Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

Global Poverty Research Lab

The Global Poverty Research Lab at the Kellogg School of Business aims to use empirical evidence and interdisciplinary engagement to understand drivers, consequences and solutions to poverty issues around the world.

Featured Centers and Institutes

Northwestern centers, institutes and academic programs are focused on global issues. Explore some of them here.

students in Mexico

Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health

The Feinberg School of Medicine’s Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health unifies two growing and successful entities at Northwestern, the Global Health Initiative Fund and the Center for Global Health. The Institute for Global Health works to expand knowledge, capacity and equity in global health through transdisciplinary research and education partnerships.

Institute for Global Health
Northwestern researcher

Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability & Energy

The work of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, which spans a wide range of disciplines and schools, seeks to advance global sustainability and energy solutions. The Trienens Institute supports centers, offers undergraduate and graduate courses and study abroad opportunities related to sustainability and energy.

Trienens Institute for Sustainability & Energy

Our Perspectives, our Scholars

As interdisciplinary researchers developing groundbreaking water monitoring tools — from biosensors that detect lead contamination to the WISE Scale that reveals access and reliability challenges — Sera L. Young (anthropology) and Julius B. Lucks (engineering) are transforming how communities worldwide, from Chicago to Costa Rica to Kenya, understand and ensure their water safety.

"Across the globe, people face challenges in getting enough clean water for their needs. Much like in sports, it takes a whole team to tackle these challenges, from engineers to social scientists, that work hard to improve everyone’s lives together."  Julius B. Lucks, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

"We are deeply committed to democratizing knowledge about safety of water; everyone should be able to know if their water is safe to drink." Sera L. Young, Professor of Anthropology & Global Health Studies