Our teaching and research doesn’t happen in an ivory tower. At Harris, we confront the most important policy issues head-on, using the best available science to produce positive social impact. 

And when we talk about Harris’ impact in the world, we have to talk about our centers, institutes, and labs because their work shapes policy in Chicago and around the world. Here are a few examples:

Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)

Harris faculty from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) presented their U.S. Energy & Climate Roadmap to the Biden administration, offering ideas for reducing carbon emissions while maintaining a strong economy.

Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab (BIP Lab)

The Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab (BIP Lab) launched Chat2Learn, a free text message program that helps parents connect with their preschool-aged children to build literacy, math, and social skills.

Center for Municipal Finance

The Center for Municipal Finance completed a nationwide analysis revealing that property taxes are inequitable—lower-income residents pay more, subsidizing the homes of the wealthy.

The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts

The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts convenes academics, policymakers, and other stakeholders at The Pearson Global Forum each year to inform and develop new strategies to prevent, resolve, and recover from conflict.

Influencing policy around the world

These are just a handful of examples, but each of our centers, institutes, and labs have stories that speak to the transformative impact of data-driven policy research. 

Explore our full list of centers and institutes at Harris to learn more about Harris’ real-world impact: