2009 APS April Meeting
Volume 54, Number 4
Saturday–Tuesday, May 2–5, 2009;
Denver, Colorado
Session T6: Panel Discussion: Preparation of Graduate Students for Careers in a Globalized World I
3:30 PM–5:18 PM,
Monday, May 4, 2009
Room: Governor's Square 16
Sponsoring
Units:
FGSA FIP
Chair: Kendall Mahn, Columbia University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2009.APR.T6.1
Abstract: T6.00001 : Modern International Research Groups: Networks and Infrastructure
3:30 PM–4:06 PM
Preview Abstract
Abstract
Author:
Linda Katehi
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
In a globalized economy, education and research are becoming
increasing international in content and context. Academic and
research institutions worldwide try to internationalize their
programs by setting formal or informal collaborations. An
education that is enhanced by international experiences leads to
mobility of the science and technology workforce. Existing
academic cultures and research structures are at odds with
efforts to internationalize education.
For the past 20-30 years, the US has recognized the need to
improve the abroad experience of our scientists and
technologists: however progress has been slow. Despite a number
of both federally and privately supported programs, efforts to
scale up the numbers of participants have not been satisfactory.
The exchange is imbalanced as more foreign scientists and
researchers move to the US than the other way around. There are a
number of issues that contribute to this imbalance but we could
consider the US academic career system, as defined by its
policies and practices, as a barrier to internationalizing the
early career faculty experience.
Strict curricula, pre-tenure policies and financial commitments
discourage students, post doctoral fellows and pre-tenure faculty
from taking international leaves to participate in research
abroad experiences. Specifically, achieving an international
experience requires funding that is not provided by the
universities. Furthermore, intellectual property requirements and
constraints in pre-tenure probationary periods may discourage
students and faculty from collaborations with peers across the
Atlantic or Pacific or across the American continent.
Environments that support early career networking are not available.
This presentation will discuss the increasing need for
international collaborations and will explore the need for
additional programs, more integration, better conditions and
improved infrastructures that can encourage and support mobility
of scientists. In addition, we will discuss the need to
incorporate internationalization into existing norms and legacy
forms that govern the research enterprise in the US.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2009.APR.T6.1