Evidence of Success!

1. Evidence of Success! Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Professionals Through International Research Experiences: Carol Bender Director UBRP & BRAVO! Programs The University of Arizona Bender@email.arizona.edu http://ubrp.arizona.edu

2. Why undergraduate research abroad? • Gives students with structured curricula an international experience integrated with their academic program • Encourages liberal arts students to get involved in research • Promotes international understanding through discipline-based collaboration • Advances collaborative projects with foreign collaborators

3. How is research abroad distinctive? Professional Growth: • Moves students beyond role of “college students” • Creates awareness of demands of international research • Encourages autonomy and professional responsibility • Exposes students to logistics of working in a foreign setting • Establishes personal & professional contacts abroad • Adds distinctive experience to student’s resume

4. How is research abroad distinctive? Cultural Awareness: • Intensifies cultural immersion • Provides different point of view • Deepens appreciation of cultural differences • Causes re-examination of stereotypes • Deepens appreciation of complexity of problems • Offers new perspectives of own country • Increases ability to communicate with a diversity of people

5. How is research abroad distinctive? Enhancement of Academic Program: • Introduces students to proposal development and research design • Develops research skills related to project • Links foreign language and cultural preparation directly to research location • Integrates an international focus into student’s academic curriculum

6. International Undergraduate Research Opportunities xxxx Costa Rica The University of Arizona

7. Several Options: Biomedical Research Abroad: Vistas Open! (BRAVO!) Advanced research experience (10 weeks to a year) Ambos Nogales Re-vegetation Project Bi-national activities made possible by proximity to the international border UA Honors College Research Grants Small grant that student can apply for to do research abroad or in the United States External Grants that the Student Secures Fulbright Fellowships, Boren Scholarships, Gilman Scholarships, DAAD, Institut Pasteur, Gates-Cambridge, Mitchell, Rhodes, Marshall-NIH, etc.

8. History of BRAVO! • Started in 1992 • Builds on strengths at UA (visiting scholars/ researchers with international connections) • Provides means for students to integrate with visiting international scholars • 179 students supported to date (60% minority; 65% female)

9. Distinctive Features of BRAVO! • Research experience, not traditional “study abroad” • Highly individualized (student becomes our scientific ambassador) • Student’s expenses are paid -- stipends and research supplies can be funded

10. The BRAVO! Mission: (similar to the mission of all of our international endeavors) To ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge, tools,and experiences to be responsible and productive members of a global society. Peru

11. BRAVO! Goals: • To promote international understanding by enabling students in the sciences to participate in research abroad related to the research they do at UA • To advance collaborative projects between UA scientists and their foreign collaborators France

12. The BRAVO! Student: • Becomes research experienced • Approaches UA mentor about identifying a foreign mentor and research group • Prepares a five page proposal for the work to be done abroad; for a copy of the application see • Presents proposal to selection committee http://ubrp.arizona.edu/ bravo/default.cfm?id=app Thailand

13. Once approved the BRAVO! student: • Participates in a two-evening cultural orientation • Works with program director on transportation, additional scientific training, reviewing program obligations, securing • visa and immunizations • Works with UA and foreign • mentors on human and • animal subjects approvals, • collecting permits • Arranges housing with foreign mentor Ecuador

14. Upon return the BRAVO! student: • Provides an article for the program newsletter • Submits receipts for housing, travel, research supplies • Makes a datablitz presentation • Makes a presentation to an off campus group • Completes a written evaluation • Pledges to stay in contact with the program for LIFE The Netherlands

15. BRAVO! Placements 1992-2009 34 countries -- 6 continents 89 foreign institutions

16. 0 20 40 60 MD MD/PhD PhD MS Other NSF/HHMI BS MIRT/MHIRT UG BRAVO! Evaluation • Written evaluations • Mentors’ and students’ comments (and mentors’ continued participation) • Record of publications and presentations • Students’ subsequent activities Current Status of BRAVO! Trainees

17. Comparison of Self Reported Learning Gains Across Programs

18. Advantages of Offering International Research Experiences • Open to all fields of study • Integrates advanced research & intense cultural experience • Powerful impact on students’ personal and professional goals • Attractive for student recruitment (and to donors) • Potential to advance knowledge

19. Disadvantages of Offering International Undergraduate Research Experience • Program Coordination is labor and time intensive • Expensive

20. My Parting Challenge to YOU! • What will you do in the next 12 months to help a student participate in an international research experience? • What impediment(s) might interfere with your accomplishing this?

21. Acknowledgements Dr. Donna Brown, Director, Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research, University of New Hampshire, for sharing her ideas on international undergraduate research experiences and HHMI, NIH, NSF, ASPET, The Beckman Foundation for support of UBRP and BRAVO! Programs