EWU McNair Scholars Saul Bautista, Badradin Mohammed, and Richard Murphy presented their research at the International Studies Association Midwest Annual Conference in November. The conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri. Each presented his McNair Summer research on thematically based panels. While there, they ran into EWU McNair alumna Alexandria Coronado!
Saul's project, mentored by Dr. Joseph Lenti, El Indio Desplasado: The Systematic Displacement of Native People in Honduran History, was presented on a panel centered on Information, Disinformation, and Competing Narratives. Saul was the only Latin Americanist presenter, and one of the few Historians at the conference. He hopes that the importance of historical contextualization of contemporary problems will bring more connections between Historians and those in International Studies fields. Saul benefitted from peer feedback and from seeing other scholars' presentations. He gained some insight as to how to restructure his research paper to be more appealing to readers and had good networking opportunities, where other students asked to read his research paper. For students considering attending an academic conference, Saul recommends going for the experience itself, to see the different research concepts and writing and presentation styles being developed in your field. It's a great opportunity for traveling and being in the company of colleagues, and it can be fun.
Badradin's project, mentored by Dr. Kristin Edquist and Alberto Felix Beltran, Water Politics: Changing Geo-politics and Changing Climate in the Nile Basin, was presented on a panel titled Human Security. This project and other conferences Badradin has attended are discussed further in this post.
Richard's project, mentored by Dr. Tom Hawley is Neoliberalism’s Effect on Society: An Analysis of the Internalization of Neoliberalism on Freedoms and Democracy, was presented on a panel titled Executives and Civil Conflicts. Richard found that the most beneficial part of attending the conference was being able to interact with so many different people studying and researching so many different things that all connect. Richard would like to tell fellow McNair Scholars that the connections made with other students and potential grad school professors are invaluable. The opportunity to network with so many people while preparing to apply to grad school programs can't be overstated.
