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# Diplomacy Lab

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Launched by the U.S. Department of State in 2013, Diplomacy Lab is a public-private partnership between the Department and more than sixty U.S. colleges and universities to conduct research around various Department-identified topics in priority policy areas. 

## Goals

Diplomacy Lab engages the American public in the work of the State Department to address complex global challenges by broadening the Department’s research base. Diplomacy Lab aims to harness the expertise and fresh perspectives of students and faculty members across the nation to conduct research on key foreign policy topics. By guiding student teams through real-world challenges identified by the State Department, the initiative seeks to provide policy makers with diverse perspectives and practical research solutions to inform their decision-making processes. 

## Partners

With more than sixty U.S. colleges and universities taking part in Diplomacy Lab, the program benefits from a diverse range of academic institutions, each bringing its unique strengths and insights to the table. Through their commitment to recruiting student teams and guiding them through research projects, partner universities demonstrate their dedication to advancing diplomacy and addressing global challenges. This partnership not only enriches the learning experiences of students, but also fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration that is essential for tackling complex global issues. 

Partner universities recruit faculty members to assemble and guide student teams to undertake Diplomacy Lab projects proposed by State Department officers. Over the course of a semester, faculty guide students in developing a final work product that accomplishes the goals developed through collaboration between the faculty lead and the Department. Students have opportunities throughout the semester to discuss their research with State Department officials, learn about the work of the Department, and engage in experiential learning that will help prepare them for a career in diplomacy and development. 

View a list of our academic partners here.

## Activities

The Department sends 120-150 project proposals every year to colleges and universities in the Diplomacy Lab network resulting in cumulatively thousands of hours of research conducted by students at America’s globally recognized academic institutions. Diplomacy Lab highlights the Department’s commitment to engage the American people in the work of the State Department and the need to broaden the Department’s research base in response to the proliferation of complex global challenges. Diplomacy Lab student participants, guided by faculty experts explore real-world challenges identified by the State Department. The program gives the Department the opportunity to receive practical research related to the issues they work on every day and connects policymakers to research-based, diverse perspectives from students of all academic backgrounds. 

For more information, visit Diplomacy Lab’s Website or Contact Us Here.

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