You can learn as much around the lunch table as you can in lab, and other lessons learned while doing research abroad

Our world is connected by water, and aquatic sciences are important everywhere. We know that global problems require global partnerships to resolve, so it is crucial that we encourage students to pursue international opportunities and offer a pathway that will build their confidence to do so. As graduate students, there are many unwritten expectations. We are told to focus on our research – but also make sure to attend conferences and build your network – and it’s good to have teaching experience so gain that too but be careful of your time when accepting outreach opportunities. These suggestions can feel conflicting, and it makes it easy to talk ourselves out of something. But what if that thing was the experience that would remotivate your research? To see the bigger picture and remind you that life is much larger than the isolation you may feel in your PhD? Traveling to Australia for ASLO’s Graduate Research Exchange Program (LOREX) and collaborating with a new team of researchers was that thing for me. There are, of course, challenges and intimidations with beginning an international collaboration, especially as a student. However, it is also the best time to try, and practice, and push ourselves out of our comfort zone. Collaborating across borders provides the foundation to critically think about issues with a global perspective, while also laying the framework towards solving them. This presentation will highlight the difficulties and lessons learned while navigating research abroad as a PhD student and the lasting impact it can have when you return.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Abby Webster, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (abwebste@syr.edu)

Authors:

Abby Webster, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry  (abwebste@syr.edu)