It’s been just shy of a month since teems of UT Austin students returned from a short-term study abroad program known as a May Term.
The faculty-led, single-course programs offer 10-30 students meaningful immersion into engineering-focused subjects like Engineering Design and Graphics in Copenhagen, Engineering Communication in London or Paris, and Technology Needs of Refugee Communities in Thessaloniki, Greece, and others.
This May, post-COVID, the interest was greater than usual as countries began to open-up opportunities for study.
GLOBAL HEALTH IN BARCELONA, SPAIN
ChE Professor Jennifer Maynard, who designs therapeutics to treat infectious diseases and vaccines to prevent them, led Engineering Global Health in Barcelona, Spain, along with Janet Zoldan, associate professor in biomedical engineering. Open to all engineering majors - especially chemical, biomedical, and medical - the cohort of 29 students benefitted from the inclusion of non-engineering majors also interested in health technology.
Tasked with answering pressing healthcare issues, students explored how science and technology could be used to solve current problems and how, once developed, new healthcare technologies can move from the lab to the bedside. It was a hands-on exploration of labs, incubators and startups within health technology.
“The most surprising thing I learned in class was the abundance of universal healthcare around the world. It really put into perspective how different the US healthcare system is from other countries,” offered Celeste Hoang, undergrad in Psychology. “I liked that the course wasn't solely engineering-based because it allowed us to approach global health from a public health standpoint as well as an engineering standpoint, which really helped me understand the course content in a holistic context.”
Students toured UNESCO World Heritage site, Hospital Sant Pau, built between 1901 and 1930 which was a fully functioning hospital until June 2009 when a new hospital opened next door. Today the site hosts: World Health Organization (WHO), EMEA, UN-HABITAT and more. Students took up flamenco lessons and toured UNESCO World Heritage Site Park Güell, one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona, designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí.
ADVANCED NANOTECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOR BEGINNERS IN TOKYO, JAPAN
Japan was the last country to open after COVID. With an overwhelming interest in the course, Cockrell’s International Engineering Education got creative. Where normally the term capped at 30 students, 80 were ultimately chosen – from all majors, not just engineering. Faculty and teaching assistants were added. The size of the cohort was unheard of previously.
ChE Professor Brian Korgel, who has two successful nanotechnology companies based on his research, led the excursion to Tokyo, with visits to Kyoto and Hiroshima. He was joined by Associate Professor Nate Lynd and Assistant Professor Joaquin Resasco. The course fused core concepts of nanotechnology with principles of innovation, business creation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property and was tempered with the global economic and collaborative environment of Japan. Students worked in groups to pitch business ideas in nanotechnology.
Sophia Shi, graduate student and recent UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellow through the Energy Institute, joined as a Teaching Assistant. “Lectures are not as meaningful to students as experiences,” Shi offered, “Dr. Korgel’s lectures are refreshing and unique. His emphasis on cultural immersion left the students with valuable memories and even changed their lives in a way.” His only assigned homework? Students were asked to write two-page reflections, each answering, ‘how does Japanese culture compare to your primary culture?’ and ‘what was a time during this trip that was challenging to you?’ Shi added, “the responses showed the students were reflecting on what they learned in school based on their cultural experiences in Japan.”
“For example, one student said that in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, he read about a boy who died from the aftereffects of the atomic bomb and wrote in his journal that he wanted to be a mechanical engineer. With a mechanical engineering internship in machinery that relates to weapon manufacturing, [the student] wanted to shift his career direction and do something good for people. It was touching for me to see that this experience sat heavily on some of the students and that they want to make a change.”
Her personal takeaway? “I learned that it is very hard to find vegetables in Japanese restaurants.” While they are cooked at home, when the locals dine out they dine on meat. “It was beneficial to put graduate work aside for a while and be inspired by the younger minds. The students' work was very impressive in such a short time, especially under the distraction of all the fun things in Japan.”
“Choosing to study abroad in Japan was one of the best decisions I made during my time at UT,” ChE undergrad Layan Al Hasan gleamed, “we were incredibly lucky to have 7 amazing professors and TAs on our trip due to the larger size of the class. Listening to the research the faculty works on helped me understand the extent of the impact they are making on the world… just from their labs.”
“A huge portion of the course was centered around the concept of innovation and taking an idea to form a successful profitable startup. It was very cool to see many of the groups focus on sustainable ideas. Our team, EcoVinyl, pitched the idea of taking discarded PVC (which isn't recyclable and is one of the worst types of plastic) to make vinyl records through a partnership with big vinyl production companies and artists,” Layan added, “there were a plethora of other great ideas including: a smart bin to help reduce food waste, a revolutionary use of nanoparticles to target chemical imbalances in the brain causing mental health issues, and a floating sea bin to help cleanup lakes while growing crops.”
“One of the most memorable experiences of the trip was visiting the city of Hiroshima and getting to see the atomic bomb drop site and museum. Being an engineer, it is important to be aware of the consequences our work may have. Choosing this career comes with a lot of responsibility to serve people for the betterment of society. Visiting the site and hearing about the aftermath from a different perspective than we had been used to was extremely insightful. It is something we will remember forever.”
Layan’s words of advice? “A few phrases can go a long way and the locals will appreciate your efforts regardless of how small they may be. This was truly a life changing experience that helped me form lifelong friendships and memories that I will cherish forever.”
PLANNING FOR 2024?
The International Engineering Education (IEE) programs prepare Texas Engineers for the global marketplace. Look for upcoming info sessions throughout the fall semester that will help answer questions about advising and financial planning.
