Regenerative Futures Lab

If you would like to propose a particular project for rLab for Fall 2024, Project Proposals should be submitted by April 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

rLab will announce the two projects for Fall 2024 by the first week of August.

If you would like to take part in rLab as a general researcher, the application must be submitted by August 26, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. at the latest.

rLab will interview all finalists (both general applicants and applicants who have proposed a project). Interviews for Projects will take place over the summer; interviews for all general applicants will take place during the first week of the semester.

If you have any question about rLab or application deadlines, email Dirk Philipsen at dirk.philipsen@duke.edu.

Duke undergraduate students.

All students are expected to:

• Be caring, responsible, reliable, and supportive members of their group and the cohort
• Commit to, and take ownership of,  their contributions toward figuring out how to create something in their project groups that promotes the well-being of people and builds toward a regenerative future
• Help their group make concrete progress toward their goal
• Take full responsibility for the project and their own role in the team (i.e. always inquire about what you can do)
• Take part in a weekend workshop on regenerative thinking and paradigm-shifting activism, organized and hosted by the lab
• Commit 6–8 hours a week, in collaboration with their teammates, taking full responsibility for project outcomes as well as being intentional about using a regenerative process
• Commit to experimenting with processes of collaboration that are themselves regenerative (i.e. inclusive, open, curious, and democratic)

One-time stipend of $1,200 per semester.

These are required for all candidates, regardless of whether you also want to propose a project.

1. 100–200 words on (a) background (if applicable) in regenerative/transformative thinking and work; (b) specific interest/focus on a post-capitalist or post-growth or post-colonial or post-extractivist future
2. 100–200 words answering what the theme “What Do We Owe to Each Other” means to you
3. 100–200 words in response to: “If I could wave a magic wand, what two to three major changes in the world would I propose?”
4. 100–200 words on why you would like to join the lab
5. 100–200 words on what mistake(s) you have learned most from?
   Indicate whether you have (1) taken a transformative course (such as wellbeing/care/feminist economics; post-colonial realities; indigenous narratives, etc); (2) engaged in organizing or research efforts with a transformative systems groups and/or scholar (such as wellbeing or care econ, post-growth, BLM/Extinction Rebellion/Fridays for Future, etc.) — neither are a requirement for participation in the lab

If you don’t have a project idea you feel strongly about, you don’t have to fill out the following.

Please note: we will run two different projects each semester — one that will originate from the rLab Support Board, and one from a project proposal submission. If you want us to consider your project idea, please submit no later than April 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., and provide us with the following (in no more than 500 words total):

1. Proposed Project Title
2. Project Proposal Abstract: Please specify what problem the project addresses, why it is significant, and how it may address innovative approaches for a regenerative future
3. Interest/Motivation: Why are you interested and what are your motivations for this project?
4. Practical steps: What are specific, actionable steps for your project to flourish over the course of one semester?
5. Possible Prerequisites: What qualifications/skill sets, if any, would project team members need in order to be productive contributors to this project?
6. Goals / Outcomes: Briefly describe what, in an ideal world, you would envision as the general goals and expected outcomes of your project.  Who or what might be served by it?
7. Results / Impact: What are the larger implications of your project?  How do you see it fitting into the larger goal of building a regenerative future that overcomes toxic power, appropriation, and addiction to growth without care for environmental systems?
8. Recruitment: How would you recruit other students to the project?

By no later than the end of the first day of the semester (but as early as you want).

No.

No later than the Last Day of Class (LDOC) of the semester prior to the rLab semester you are applying to.

Two — one put forth by the rLab support board, and one selected from the applicants’ submissions.

Absolutely!  No applicant is required to propose a project.

Absolutely!  All we ask participants to do is become active and supportive group members of whatever project they will participate in.

Absolutely!  That is the whole point of rLab — for each group to figure out the best, most regenerative way to address a problem.

Creating something new with the tools of the old does not work. Our current systems are failing us — that is easy to see. But what might a new, better system look like?

Applications are now open for the 2023 Regenerative Futures Lab (rLab) sponsored by Kenan Institute for Ethics, Trinity College, and the Transformative Systems Project. Each semester, rLab will provide funding for several teams of students to search for paradigm shifting, regenerative answers to specific topical areas that will differ each year. The topical focus for the academic year 2023/24 is Debt — What We Owe to Each Other.

The Regenerative Futures Lab is a student-led research and action lab leveraging Duke’s resources to shift towards a regenerative economy. Students will work in teams of 5–6 to produce original results in the field of regenerative economics, policy, and activism. Both product and process of the students’ work will involve traditional and nontraditional pathways and final product components. The purpose of both product and process is to advance a regenerative future.

All teams will receive support from the director of rLab and the Kenan Institute, and will actively seek collaborations and input from experts in the field, faculty, and outside organizations. This process aims to generate non-extractive relationships between cohort members and the world around them as an essential part of breaking down exploitative constructs of work and community.

This lab is for students who sense that something is fundamentally wrong with the system in which we live — and that we study to become part of. Our aim is to empower such students to think beyond mainstream/dominant paradigms and towards a future that centers wellbeing, reciprocity, safety, and justice.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2023, midnight (there will be an additional application deadline for Spring 2024 applications)

Program Dates: September 5 – December 8, 2023; January 19 – April 24, 2024

Eligibility: Duke Undergraduate Students

Commitment/Expectation: All students will take part in a weekend workshop on regenerative economy hosted by the lab and explore possible subtopics before the lab meetings start. Students are expected to devote 6–8 hours a week to rLab. This time is split between lab/cohort meetings, independent research, and related events tied to the lab.

Award: One-time stipend of $1,200 per semester

Application Requirements:

1. 100-200 words on (a) background (if applicable) in regenerative/transformative thinking and work; (b) specific interest/focus on a post-capitalist or post-growth or post-colonial or post-extractivist future
2. 100-200 words in response to:  “If I could wave a magic wand, what 2 or 3 major changes in the world would I propose?”
3. 100-200 words on why you would like to join the lab
4. A short essay on something you have done that you’re most proud of
5. Indicate whether you have (1) taken a transformative course (such as wellbeing/care/feminist economics; post-colonial realities; indigenous narratives, etc); (2) been a member of TSP; (3) engaged in organizing or research efforts with a transformative systems groups and/or scholar (such as wellbeing or care econ, post-growth, BLM/Extinction Rebellion/Fridays for Future etc)  – none of the above in any way represent requirements

Click here to apply

Building a Happy City in rLab

Application Deadline: January 6, 2023

Creating something new with the tools of the old does not work. Our current systems are failing us—that is easy to see. But what might a new, better system look like?

Applications are now open for the 2022 Regenerative Futures Lab (rLab) sponsored by Kenan Institute for Ethics, Trinity College, and the Transformative Systems Project. Each semester, rLab will provide funding for several teams of students to search for paradigm shifting, regenerative answers to specific topical areas that will differ each year. The topical focus for the Spring semester of 2023 is Building a Happy City.

The Regenerative Futures Lab is a student-led research and action lab leveraging Duke’s resources to shift towards a regenerative economy. Students will work in teams of 4 to produce original results in the field of regenerative economics, policy, and activism. Both product and process of the students’ work will involve traditional and nontraditional pathways and final product components. The purpose of both product and process is to advance a regenerative future.

All teams will receive support from the director of rLab and the Kenan Institute, and will actively seek collaborations and input from experts in the field, faculty, and outside organizations. This process aims to generate non-extractive relationships between cohort members and the world around them as an essential part of breaking down exploitative constructs of work and community.

This lab is for students who sense that something is fundamentally wrong with the system in which we live—and that we study to become part of. Our aim is to empower such students to think beyond neoliberal paradigms and towards a future that centers wellbeing, reciprocity, safety, and justice.

Program Dates: January 22 – April 23, 2023

Eligibility: Duke Undergraduate Students

Commitment/Expectation:

All students will take part in a weekend workshop on regenerative economy hosted by the lab and explore possible subtopics before the lab meetings start. Students are expected to work 5-8 hours a week. This time is split between lab/cohort meetings, independent research, and related events tied to the lab.
Award: Students will be paid $16 per hour.

Application Requirements:
1. 100-200 words on (a) background (if applicable) in regenerative/transformative thinking and work; (b) specific interest/focus on a post-capitalist or post-growth or post-colonial or post-extractivist future
2. What unique perspectives or experiences do you bring to this work?
3. 100-200 words in response to: “If I could wave a magic wand, what 2 or 3 major changes in the world would I propose?”
4. 100-200 words on why you would like to join rLab

To apply, please fill out this Qualtrics form, which will prompt you to respond to the above questions, by midnight on Friday, January 6th, 2023.