By Bill Campbell
Special
to Intercom
Ryan
Newman of Yardley has never been out of the country before, but the economics
major is spending this summer in Cameroon, conducting research for his honors
thesis at the Demographic Research Institute at the University of Yaounde.
Newman, a student in the Schreyer Honors College, is one of the first recipients of the college's international summer thesis research grants, a new funding program designated for Schreyer scholars who want to go abroad to perform research for their thesis.
His experience was made possible through his thesis adviser, David Shapiro, professor of economics and women's studies, who connected him with a colleague at the demographic institute, and by winning one of the new summer research grants.
"When Professor Shapiro told me about a colleague of his at the institute in Cameroon, I knew I wanted to go," Newman said. "I had an interest in learning about a developing country and developing a research project out of that knowledge. Economics is not necessarily the most interesting subject, but I wanted to develop a thesis in this area that was both interesting and productive.
"The resources are available so that you have the opportunity to step headfirst into a developing country. It's extraordinary. It says a lot about Penn State."
The University not only offers numerous study abroad opportunities for undergraduate students, but research opportunities abroad as well -- all in keeping with Penn State's goal of increasing the number of undergraduate students who have international experiences to 20 percent of each graduating class.
Undergraduate research opportunities abroad are expected to increase in light of the Schreyer Honors College's goal of 50 percent of its students graduating with international learning experience. This may involve spending a traditional semester studying abroad at an international university; taking a Penn State course abroad with a Penn State professor; conducting laboratory or field research; or participating in volunteer service, such as with Volunteers for Peace or teaching English as a second language in China.
Other undergraduate students also are choosing to conduct research aboard. Each college within the University approaches research abroad in different ways -- visiting archives and libraries to study original texts through the College of the Liberal Arts or working in a laboratory through the Eberly College of Science.
Recipients of the Schreyer Ambassador Travel grants and the international research grants choose the country in which they want to work and develop their own volunteer projects. Before traveling abroad, they also do substantial reading on the country to become familiar with its social and cultural landscape. On their return, students write a report on their experiences. Some also will use what they learned abroad as a launching pad for their senior thesis.
One-on-one interaction between faculty and students is one of the keys to developing research opportunities abroad for undergraduates. Faculty members like Shapiro can draw on their own international research experiences and their contacts with colleagues around the world.
Shapiro understands Newman's excitement over his opportunity to do research abroad.
"I hope Ryan's experience changes his life, the way my first visit to Africa changed mine," he said.
Cheryl Achterberg, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, said the new summer research grants were made possible through gifts to the college.
"The international research grants are designed to help enable students devote full-time effort on a research experience during the summer in order to help better prepare them for graduate school and future careers," she said. "We're hoping to make it a permanent program to assist as many students as possible."
This summer's international grant recipients, in addition to Newman, are: Sarah Bent, Fresno, Calif.; Erika Dusen, Doylestown; Kimberly Singer, Chadds Ford; and Marley Stoner, West Lawn.