Dr. Seth Feinberg
Western Washington University
This stream invites scholars to share programs, initiatives, and strategies to merge undergraduate student learning across cultures, borders, and disciplines. This includes funding opportunities to connect students in applied research settings in the field, but also virtually in collaborative online learning classrooms, and at professional conferences within and beyond Africa’s borders. The broader implications of these proposed activities should emerge from students’ exploration of multidisciplinary content and learning how to transmit scientific knowledge to academic and public audiences across the globe. The challenges of development do not fit into narrow academic fields, so pathways and innovations must include the full complement of scholarly voices. While funding is always a challenge, the benefits of face-to-face interactions for future scholars to learn from each other while conducting applied research projects are invaluable. Discussion topics will include grant opportunities from governments, NGOs, and the private sector to help train the next generation of African researchers. An additional goal is to connect universities across the continent with partner universities outside of Africa to generate cross-cultural research opportunities. Consistent with the program theme, these projects should provide voice to African scholars and scientists to help shape areas of inquiry across the continent. We have moved past the one-directional paternalism of western researchers setting the agenda, and this stream is intended to highlight successful projects and to facilitate future ones.
