This Thing We Call Democracy

Research is Never Really Finished

Episode 6: Mathematics and Biology professor Veronica Ciocanel and student Daniel Block (T’24) discuss their shared experience of being math students at Duke, what it means to let go of a project’s ownership and how to use the scientific method to investigate the existence of the Tooth Fairy. Credits Senior Editor and Producer: Cara August, Trinity Communications  Audio Editor and Mixer: Marc Maximov  Music Composition: Grace Davis, T’26  Production Sponsor: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University  Recording Date and Location: April 2024, Bryan Center Studios  Full Transcript: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/duets-episode-6-research-never-really-finished

Living in the Both

Episode 5: Asian American & Diaspora Studies professor Eileen Chow and student Huiyin Zhou (T’24) discuss the fruits of inter-generational collaboration, the power of collective poetry writing and the different kinds of intimacies that emerge from being able to comfortably switch between languages. Credits Senior Editor and Producer: Cara August, Trinity Communications  Audio Editor and Mixer: Marc Maximov  Music Composition: Grace Davis, T’26  Production Sponsor: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University  Recording Date and Location: April 2024, Bryan Center Studios  Full Transcript: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/duets-episode-5-living-both

Turn the Lights On

Episode 4: Dance professor Iyun Harrison and student Leah Esemuede (T’24) discuss how the body is politicized in the ballet world, the vital role of artistic skills on overall student success, and the decisions a choreographer must make when staging a dance piece — including the importance of lighting design. Credits Senior Editor and Producer: Cara August, Trinity Communications  Audio Editor and Mixer: Marc Maximov  Music Composition: Grace Davis, T’26  Production Sponsor: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University  Recording Date and Location: March 2024, Bryan Center Studios  Full Transcript: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/duets-episode-4-turn-lights

Don’t Choose the Group, Choose the People

Episode 3: Cultural Anthropology professor Christine Folch and student Andrew McCallum (T’24) discuss the value of friendship and camaraderie in research, how forgotten stories can be uncovered in archival records, and the cultural significance of South America’s most popular beverage, yerba mate — whose North American cousin hides in plain sight on Duke’s campus. Credits Senior Editor and Producer: Cara August, Trinity Communications  Audio Editor and Mixer: Marc Maximov  Music Composition: Grace Davis, T’26  Production Sponsor: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University  Recording Date and Location: April 2024, Bryan Center Studios  Full Transcript: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/duets-episode-3-dont-choose-group-choose-people

This Thing We Call Democracy

Episode 2: History professor Gunther Peck and student Hannah McKnight (T’22) discuss the importance of curiosity in democracy work, their shared experience as 20-year-old volunteers at voter registration drives, and the need for collective action to create meaningful social change. Credits Senior Editor and Producer: Cara August, Trinity Communications  Audio Editor and Mixer: Marc Maximov  Music Composition: Grace Davis, T’26  Production Sponsor: Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University  Recording Date and Location: December 2023, Bryan Center Studios  Full Transcript: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/duets-episode-2-thing-we-call-democracy