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Robert Winston Taylor, Montclair State University of New Jersey, United StatesAbstract
This paper explores how U.S. Universities can engage their students in overseas field research projects in sustainability science by utilizing a modified citizen science model. It looks at the experience of offering a field research course between students at Montclair State University and students at a Vietnam University to propose a model that incorporates the principles and protocols of citizen science with global student collaborative engagement. In this model, students under the mentorship of a US Professor in field course format form a collaborative arrangement with overseas professors and students to gather research data and address research questions in sustainability science that affect local communities. The target locations for this research are primarily in the Philippines and Vietnam. The sustainability issues are: marine resources, coral reef ecosystem health and over-fishing; flooding and green infrastructure projects; analyzing the urban heat island effects of dense urban communities; and the impact of volcanic events in local communities. The U.S. Professor coordinates field research protocols with overseas colleagues and utilizes students in research teams for peer learning. Students in the program develop leadership and cross-cultural personal skills while expanding their technical expertise. They learn to work with local communities to enhance local problem solving.
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