by Alexandra DeMarco
The Center for Global Engagement has announced the winners of the McClure Scholarship and Mae Scheib Scholarship for International Research for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Both scholarships are awarded to students to support international independent research. The W. K. McClure Scholarship Program awards full-time undergraduate or graduate students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with financial awards up to $5,000. The scholarship can be applied to research and creative projects and aims to enhance the development of knowledge surrounding significant international issues. The Mae Scheib Scholarship also awards $5,000 to undergraduate or graduate students to support international research or creative work abroad.
This year, CGE selected a total of seven McClure and Mae Scheib Scholars from four different colleges across campus. The colleges represented are the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Tickle College of Engineering, and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
Jamie McGowan, director of the Global Research Office, commended this years’ scholars on their accomplishment.
“This year’s McClure and Mae Scheib Scholars are an outstanding group of applicants and highly deserving of the awards,” McGowan said. “Their academic trajectories along with their research agendas are so promising, and we look forward to learning more about the outcomes of their research.”
Read further to learn more about each scholar and the global impact they expect their research to have.
Mae Scheib Scholars
Sweta Dixit
Sweta Dixit
What is the title of your research project?
The Effectiveness of Park Revenue Sharing (PRS) in Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
This research aims to evaluate the PRS policy, provide a clear idea of what works and what does not work in the reduction of Human-Wildlife Conflict through this approach and identify the areas of improvement in the existing PRS framework to enhance its global adoption. Human-Wildlife Conflict is a major issue worldwide and is expected to continue adding challenges in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Stakeholders in both developed and developing countries are looking for innovative policies to alleviate conflict and promote conservation and sustainable development, and this project, through scientifically valid, data-driven research, will generate new knowledge to help address this issue around the world.
Why is global engagement important to you?
I believe that global engagement is important to learn about and disseminate the local activities and actions to the global community. It helps to build networks and strengthen relationships for future collaboration in (wildlife) research.
What is a fun fact about you?
I am a wildlife student but I am terrified of cows. This goes back to my childhood because I was chased by cows multiple times.
Rosy Kamrunnaher
Rosy loves traveling, this photo taken in Denver, Colorado
What is the title of your research project?
Assessing the Effectiveness of Bystander Intervention Training to Prevent Gender-based Violence among Undergraduate Students in Bangladesh
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
Gender-based violence or violence against women or girls is considered a global pandemic. This travesty is exacerbated in countries with low economic development, including Bangladesh. Ideally, the project will not only contribute to the scientific literature but also inform the consideration of the bystander intervention training as an effective method to reduce gender-based violence in developing countries like Bangladesh.
Why is global engagement important to you?
Gender-based violence is an issue that all the countries of the world are facing more or less, and prevention programs are needed to reduce gender-based violence globally. Global engagement is needed to implement gender-based violence prevention programs.
What is a fun fact about you?
I have a small balcony garden and I love to grow different types of herbs and vegetables.
McClure Scholars
Leah in Yellowstone National Park posed in front of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Leah Coffey
What is the title of your research project?
Scotland-Visitor Experience-Carrying Capacities
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
I expect to gain a deeper understanding of the sustainability initiatives, measures and the visitor experience in Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. I plan to then relay what I learn to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States.
Why is global engagement important to you?
I think it is a great way to foster collaboration. I think it also helps people to be more open-minded and think more creatively about various issues.
What is a fun fact about you?
I spent a summer working in Yellowstone National Park, it was such an incredible experience. I also love to hike, go canoeing and bake!
Lauren is pictured here walking along the Pont de Bir-Hakeim bridge in Paris
Lauren Koutlias
What is the title of your research project?
The Embodiment of War: Effects of Occupation and Civil Conflict on Skeletal Growth and Development of Greeks (1940-1949)
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
My research will evaluate the long-term developmental effects of international conflict, focusing on tell-tale signs of childhood growth disruptions in adult skeletal remains housed in modern skeletal collections in Greece. I expect my work to be impactful by enhancing understanding of 1940s world affairs, centering Greek lives during World War II and the subsequent civil conflict, which was the first proxy of the Cold War. Results will also inform scientific awareness of the relationship between stressful events and skeletal growth and development, which is especially pertinent knowledge now that the Russian Federation has invaded Ukraine, with the potential for not only immense loss of human life but life-long biological insults to survivors.
Why is global engagement important to you?
Doing research in international milieus exposes researchers to different ways of thinking and enhances global consciousness at the individual and university level. But most importantly to me as a Greek-American, the McClure Scholarship and the Center for Global Engagement are providing me with the opportunity to build connections and partnerships with researchers and institutions in Greece, which will foster valuable academic knowledge exchange.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve had the opportunity to work at archaeological field and lab projects in multiple international locales, including the southeastern Peruvian desert, the rainforest of Belize and rural Transylvania, Romania.
Nicole during previous fieldwork in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador holding a Mountain Tanager (under proper permits and techniques)
Nicole Lussier
What is the title of your research project?
Combatting deforestation: How do differing reforestation techniques influence the reestablishment of ecosystem services?
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
My research will aim to identify sustainable and efficient strategies for restoration, with particular attention to the reestablishment of ecosystem services. Reforestation can offer many benefits to local communities such as healthier habitats, better soil for polyculture farming and agriculture, increased food security and other economic benefits. The results of this study will provide information on how certain plant and animal species could promote forest regeneration and the reestablishment of ecosystem services by identifying what species should be targeted for early reforestation efforts.
Why is global engagement important to you?
Global engagement gives me the privilege of learning from and engaging with local communities while simultaneously working in highly important yet threatened ecosystems. Local citizens are the best experts of native flora and fauna, thus collaborating with them is an invaluable resource when it comes to my field work. Additionally, disseminating information about my findings to local communities is one of my main goals, as I hope my work can aid in making tropical restoration initiatives more accessible and sustainable.
What is a fun fact about you?
In the summer of 2019 I hiked Cotopaxi, the worlds highest active volcano and Ecuador’s second highest peak.
A. Latif Patwary
Headshot of A. Latif Patwary
What is the title of your research project?
Does online shopping reduce in-person shopping trips in a developing country? A case study of megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
My study can help decision-makers leverage the complementary or substituting benefits of online shopping and physical shopping trips in future transportation planning, aiming to reduce urban congestion and improve safety while considering the economic challenges.
Why is global engagement important to you?
I think Global Engagement is important to expand knowledge and promote global development to make the world a livable place for everyone.
What is a fun fact about you?
If I had to choose between living in the suburbs, city or rural area, I would prefer a rural area. I just love nature! If I could only watch one television show for the rest of my life, it would be “Friends”!
Álvaro Germán Torres Mora
Àlvaro Germán Torres Mora
What is the title of your research project?
An analysis of land inequality in Colombia
What global impact do you expect your research to have?
I expect to analyze how early land inequality in Colombia has resulted in a pervasive conflict and civil war. This study aims to expand the understanding of the rural history and how it was shaped by an unequal allocation of public lands. This is extremely relevant in the current transitional justice process given the implication of land claims in the Colombian national peace agreement.
Why is global engagement important to you?
It is important since many social conflicts across the world have common roots. I am interested in analyzing how the unequal past has shaped many problems societies in the global south face today.
What is a fun fact about you?
The U.S. South never stops amazing me. I have traveled to more than 25 countries and the Southern culture, after three years, keeps surprising me.
CONTACT:
Jason Moody (865-974-5752, jmoody9@utk.edu)