|
|
|
| Abstract Title:
|
| An Evaluation of Exploratory International Research Trips during the Ph.D.
|
| Graduate Student Presenter:
|
Emma Flores
|
| Name of the Author(s) and Affiliation(s):
|
Emma Flores, Multinational Collaborations on Challenges to the Environment IGERT, University of Washington
|
|
The central focus of the Multinational Collaborations on Challenges to the Environment IGERT at the University of Washington is to train graduate students how to address the complex challenges of environmental problems that cross national, cultural, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries. Students in this IGERT are introduced to collaborative research across disciplines and national cultures by participating in “exploratory international research trips” or “research-pulse” trips where they work with local environmental scholars on problems of mutual concern. Three different international exploratory research trips occurred over the course of two years (2006-2007); two to China and one to New Zealand. The purpose of this evaluation research was to understand what doctoral students gained by participating in these exploratory international research trips. Students were administered a 21-question survey and the data were compiled into summative reports which form the basis for this presentation. Some of the findings include: students felt under-prepared for collaborating with international researchers, students developed increased comfort with international collaborations, and students expressed a strong desire to return and conduct additional research. Recommendations will be made, based on these findings, on how to create and facilitate meaningful international research experiences for doctoral students.
|
|
|
