Buffett Institute: Frequently Asked Questions

Great Idea Dialogues take many, broad-ranging forms. They all ask questions that:

1. demonstrate global scope,
2. are intellectually challenging,
3. have real-world implications, and
4. invite transdisciplinary collaboration.

Idea Dialogue proposers work together with Northwestern Buffett staff to curate a list of potential participants and invite them to attend.

The SDGs are important to Northwestern’s global mission because they provide a set of goals and priorities that are familiar to audiences across the world. The SDGs have an extremely broad scope.Ide

Buffett staff work closely with faculty leaders to identify a list of invitees. We know that email can be time-consuming, so Buffett staff are very happy to send out invitations on behalf of faculty leaders.

Yes, as long as their research and expertise pertain to the particular Idea Incubation Workshop group. Faculty leaders work with Buffett staff to identify the best experts, locally and internationally, to bring to the workshop.

Yes. In fact, it is strongly encouraged that you do.

Working Groups receive a package of Northwestern Buffett support for up to two years. During this time, Working Groups should apply for external grant funding to further pursue their research.

The Northwestern Buffett Working Group support package is valued at more than $150,000 per year and includes funding, graduate assistantships, fundraising support, and administrative staff support for operations. Each Working Group works with Northwestern Buffett to determine the group’s particular support and resources needs.

Each Working Group works together to determine the roles and responsibilities of its participants early in their planning process. In other words, you work with your group to decide on labor distribution and time commitments to the group’s project.