Notre Dame Democracy Initiative
Democracy is in crisis both at home and abroad.The level of democracy experienced by the average person in the world today has regressed to the level of 1985 and more than 70% of the global population currently lives under autocracy, according to a 2024 report by the Varieties of Democracy Project.The Notre Dame Democracy Initiative hopes to play a key role in responding to this crisis.
More from Notre Dame Videos
- 1:00PFAS: The Forever ProblemHow do you tackle "forever chemicals"? Notre Dame is the perfect place to find out.We're identifying environmental impacts, developing new ways to measure and manage contaminated water supplies, and exploring new methods of treatment.
- 2:50A Watershed Moment: The growing threat of PFAS on our shoresBiological Sciences Professor Daniele Miranda tracks the flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, through waterways to study the effects they have on local communities.Working in collaboration with NOAA and Indiana's Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Miranda and her team of researchers found that underserved communities are exposed to PFAS levels up to ten times higher than the EPA regulations for drinking water—posing serious health risks.This video reveals how PFAS contamination can lead to immunosuppression, various cancers, and decreased vaccine responses while showcasing the University of Notre Dame's research and environmental justice efforts to inform policymakers about this critical environmental issue.This is the third video from the series "PFAS: The Forever Problem." Learn more at nd.edu/stories/pfas.