Exploring The Human Dimensions Of War

Nine Bass Connections pop-up teams investigated the human cost of geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East

Collage of photos depicting students and faculty who are members of Bass Connections' project teams in front of their presentations

This is a summary of a story that originally appeared on Bass Connections.

Two years ago, Duke University’s Bass Connections, a university-wide academic program that supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research, launched a special “pop-up” theme focusing on growing geopolitical conflicts and humanitarian crises around the world.

Developed in partnership with the Provost’s Initiative on the Middle East, nine new project teams were formed to delve into the complex challenges facing that region.

The pop-ups presented their work at the 2025 Bass Connections Showcase in tandem with more than 70 other project teams. The showcase illustrated how cross-disciplinary inquiry can increase awareness and generate significant global impact.

The teams explored timely topics across a wide range of disciplinary perspectives, including public health and engineering, along with religious studies and political science. In each instance, the teams were committed to amplifying the human dimensions of the conflict.

Although one of the teams explored delivery of humanitarian aid to South Sudan, most of the teams’ work centered on the war in Gaza, including the humanitarian aspects of adequate shelter, water and sanitation; the impact of the conflict on children with heart disease; and providing emotional support for children in war zones in Gaza and the West Bank.

For a description of all the pop-up projects, go to Bass Connections.