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.
The Buffett Institute for Global Affairs' research groups, grants and engagement opportunities are showcased on its website. Some of its programs for research include:
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.
Northwestern centers, institutes and academic programs are focused on global issues. Explore some of them here.
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.
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.
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