Our Work

Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s work spans all disciplines and professions. The Institute provides invaluable support to scholars and students pursuing pathbreaking research and creative projects, including Radcliffe fellows, participants in seminars and workshops, and those inspired by the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections.
Harvard Radcliffe Institute also offers a wide range of events and exhibitions, which are free and open to the public. These programs reflect our commitment to expanding access to the University and to supporting the robust exchange of ideas.
As part of our strategic plan, Radcliffe Engaged, launched in 2019, the Institute identified two initial focus areas that place greater emphasis on research applications; scholarship that engages civic and community partners, public debates, and broader audiences; and supporting the development of Harvard students.
Learn more about Radcliffe Engaged Learn about our work on Law, Education, and Justice Learn about our Climate Change initiativeFeatured Areas of Inquiry
Equity & Opportunity
Radcliffe is committed to work that deepens and expands human understanding by dismantling barriers.

Women, Gender, and Society
Radcliffe’s founding commitment to women, gender, and society endures in our work.

Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery
The presidential initiative on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, announced by Harvard President Lawrence Bacow in 2019 and anchored at Harvard Radcliffe Institute, is an effort to understand and address the enduring legacy of slavery within the University community.

Climate Change Initiative
HRI's Climate Change Initiative is an effort to explore the impacts of the climate crisis through an interdisciplinary lens and to address issues of climate justice—particularly the disproportionate effects on marginalized communities locally and globally.

Law, Education, and Justice
The Institute’s focus on law, education, and justice reflects a growing bipartisan consensus that historically high rates of incarceration in the United States constitute a national crisis.

Youth Leadership
Across the country and around the world, young people are leading calls for social change. A new mentoring and leadership development program at Harvard Radcliffe Institute empowers Harvard undergraduates and local high school students to drive meaningful change in their communities.
