Research and study abroad for science, math and engineering students

The WISE program co-sponsored a Research and Study Abroad workshop in November for undergraduate students in science, math and engineering. Nearly 100 students turned out for this workshop.

Many graduate schools and employers view overseas experiences as an important part of an undergraduate education. However, many science, math and engineering students don't take advantage of study abroad experiences because of the perceptions or the reality of the difficulty of trying to fit this experience into a an academically rigorous course load.

In addition there are many study abroad opportunities offered through UM and through non-UM organizations. Determining the best program can be overwhelming for students.

The workshop featured speakers from several UM offices, including International Center's Overseas Opportunities Office, LSA's Office of International Programs (OIP), the Minority Health and Health Disparity International Research Training (MHIRT) Program, Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU) program, and the International Programs in Engineering (OIP) office. Students were given an overview of all of these offices and suggestions on the best way to start looking for opportunities, depending on their needs and interests.

A panel of UM science, math and engineering students with recent overseas experience spoke about their experiences and how they chose the particular program they were involved in. They also answered questions about affordability, housing, credit or research experiences,

Panelists included: Thomas Fai, who participated in Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at CERN; Sarah Kairis, a fourth year in LSA majoring Cellular and Molecular Biology and Spanish, who studied abroad Winter 2007 in Granada, Spain and also participated in GIEU Summer 2006 in Maui, Hawaii; Genevieve Lampinen, a fifth year COE student in Chemical Engineering and the Program in Global Engineering who conducted research in Ghana through MHIRT, Summer 2007; Conor Reynolds, a third year in LSA majoring in Natural Resources and the Environment who participated in the Ecoquest-New Zealand program during the Fall 2006 term; Zakiyah Sayyed, a fifth year in COE majoring in Interdisciplinary Engineering who participated in GIEU South Africa; Sara Worsham, a forth year in LSA, majoring in Environmental Geoscience, who participated in GIEU/Geology Department from Iceland in Summer 2007; Wai Ling (Kimmy) Wu, a forth year in LSA studying Physics and Mathematics who studied at the University of St Andrews Winter 2007 and articipated in Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at CERN, June to August 2007; and Eszter Zavodsky, a third year Neuroscience major who participated in the RISE Program (Research Internships in Science and Engineering), conducting research at Jacobs University Bremen in Bremen, Germany.

December 2007 eNews

October 2007 eNews

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