Studies have shown that undergraduate research opportunities foster student interest in research and put students on a path toward higher education. It has been further suggested that engineering projects in international settings promote a connection between engineering and social welfare that may compel students to seek future research opportunities. Through the Sustainable Sanitation International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) Program, three cohorts of students from San Diego State University and CalPoly Pomona University, primarily from groups under-represented in engineering, conducted research in Durban, South Africa on sanitation, energy and nutrient recovery from wastewater, and water reuse for agricultural applications. Research was supervised by colleagues at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban University of Technology, and the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA). Summative evaluations of the project were used to test the hypotheses that the international context and the opportunity to interact with South African students and scientist would provide participants with a global perspective of water reuse challenges and increased research skills, self-efficacy, and team building skills, and motivation for the environmental engineering profession. Pre- and post-program survey results revealed that, after leading 6- to 8-week long research projects, participants improved research skills and content knowledge in engineering and strengthened confidence in conducting engineering research. All participants reported very positive cultural experiences; some members of Cohorts 2 & 3 reported very positive experiences working with UKZN students, but challenges were also faced in some of the paired teams. Our results indicate that students’ awareness of societal needs and engineering challenges faced in this international and interdisciplinary setting resulted in a positive impact on the professional development of each student. The benefits gained from the international research experience, as well as the challenges faced, will inform future efforts to undertake international undergraduate research at the food-energy-water nexus.<br/>

Undergraduate international research at the food-energy-water nexus: Influence on research skills, research confidence, and cultural enrichment

255th National Meeting (2018)

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