Duke Students Gain New Interdisciplinary Design Studio
Students can now use the new Pluriversal Studio for collaborative projects in art, engineering, and the humanities.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Scholarships
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Duke University has launched the Pluriversal Studio, a new interdisciplinary workspace designed to foster collaboration between students in the arts, engineering, and sciences. The facility recently hosted its inaugural open house at the Rubenstein Arts Center, showcasing student projects ranging from documentary films to 3D-printed museum replicas.
Why it matters
The studio provides a dedicated environment for cross-disciplinary research and development, allowing students to integrate technical skills like 3D printing and software design with creative arts. This collaboration aims to enhance the value of undergraduate credentials by bridging the gap between humanities, engineering, and the physical sciences.
The Pluriversal Studio is an interdisciplinary effort involving Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, the Pratt School of Engineering, DukeArts, and the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute. It is currently developing projects such as 3D-printed statuettes for the Nasher Museum of Art touch collection.
The players
Duke University
A large, private research university in Durham that provides extensive financial aid and resources for interdisciplinary student research.
Pedro Lasch
The director of the Pluriversal Studio who leads the initiative to expand programming and museum partnerships.
Nasher Museum of Art
A prominent art museum located on the campus of Duke University that hosts exhibitions and educational collections.
Rubenstein Arts Center
A campus hub for creative and artistic production at Duke University where the Pluriversal Studio is housed.
The details
The studio facilitates project-based learning where students apply techniques like hand-painting, plaster casting, and 3D printing to create museum-quality facsimiles. By integrating mathematicians, biologists, engineers, and artists, the workspace functions as a laboratory for testing new technologies alongside creative expression. Students use these technical workflows to refine physical models and digital media, such as documentary films, in a collaborative environment.
Timeline
Tuesday, October 27, 2026: The studio held its inaugural open house at the Rubenstein Arts Center.
Education Landscape
The launch of the Pluriversal Studio reflects a broader trend among major research universities to provide specialized, cross-disciplinary workspaces that prepare students for collaborative careers. This initiative aligns with institutional efforts to increase the practical application of humanities and engineering coursework.
Students at Duke University can look forward to future workshops and collaborative opportunities hosted by the Pluriversal Studio. If you are interested in interdisciplinary research or model-making, contact the Rubenstein Arts Center or your department's advisor to inquire about upcoming participation eligibility.
The takeaway
The Pluriversal Studio demonstrates how merging disparate fields like engineering and the humanities can create tangible, professional-grade research projects. Students interested in these collaborative opportunities should monitor the Rubenstein Arts Center calendar for future workshop dates.
Further reading
For more information on how interdisciplinary resources can support your academic development, visit Scholarships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Duke Chronicle.
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