Lecturer University of Florida Gainesville, Florida
International educational experiences, such as study abroad programs and global service learning, can be immensely impactful for students. However, it can be challenging to provide meaningful, authentic international experiences for students who don't have the funding or flexibility to travel abroad. To address this need, I have developed a semester-long project (Science Across Borders) that allows students to connect virtually with entomologists across the world and reflect on the benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with international research collaborations. This project is part of an introductory Insect Research course that I teach at the University of Florida, and to date our students have interviewed 14 researchers from ten countries. Through this project, students can experience many of the same benefits of a study abroad program without leaving their home campus– including an increased understanding of other countries and cultures, building their cross-cultural communication skills, active listening, self-awareness and reflection, and more. It can also inspire students to consider internationally-focused careers in the future and help foster an appreciation for entomology as a global discipline. In this presentation, I will share my approach to designing, implementing, and assessing the Science Across Borders project, as well as provide helpful resources for educators who are interested in incorporating similar experiences into their own courses.
