Paulson ISF Blog
In collaboration with the Paulson Ecology of Place Initiative, OIS is excited to launch the Paulson International Study Fellowship
In keeping with the innovative and multidisciplinary approach of the Paulson Initiative on campus, students traveling abroad will participate in a diverse array of activities that will enhance and enrich their understanding of the space that they will temporarily inhabit abroad as well as their place in the world. By furthering Paulson’s mission abroad, we seek to prepare students to be agents of change in whatever space they find themselves.
Goals:
- Engage - To inspire Wellesley students to actively engage with and develop a sense of place within the natural environment of their study abroad destination
- Build - To encourage students to build meaningful connections with their local community through engaging with individuals and organizations whose work centers around issues of nature and sustainability
- Share - To invite students to bring back learnings from their study abroad destination to share with the Wellesley community
All Fellows will participate in the following activities:
ENGAGE
In-Person Pre-Departure Meetings
From Late October to Mid-December, Fellows will come together in-person to discuss travel and sustainability practices abroad and to plan for their time abroad.
Reflective Journal Prompts
Fellows will receive a journal prompt every other Monday. These prompts will invite students to carefully and thoughtfully consider the natural environment of their host destination and in so doing, reflect on their own experience abroad. Journal entries will be turned into "Notes from the Field" blog posts.
Zoom Global Gatherings
Once per month, students will briefly convene on Zoom to share reflections on their experience abroad, to remain connected to each other and the Wellesley community, and to discuss the status of their Local Engagement and Final Projects.
BUILD
Local Engagement Project
Students will connect and work with local individuals or organizations whose work centers on nature, environmental justice, or sustainability. An organization should be selected within 2-3 weeks of arrival.
Potential organizations:
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Local university student organization or office
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Local branch of international organizations such as Nature Conservancy and Climate Reality Project
SHARE
Final Project
As a culmination of their experience and reflections throughout the semester, students will design and produce an individual project. Students will choose the final format and medium of their project according to their own interests and skills. The more creative the better! For example, projects could take the form of a photography exhibit, interpretive dance, op-ed, artwork, or poetry.
Showcase/Tanner Presentation
Upon return for campus in Fall 2023, students will 1) share their final project in a showcase and 2) present on a special panel during the Tanner Conference.
October 28, 2024 - Applications due
November 4, 2024 - Expected notification date
Fellows will receive a stipend of $400 paid in two installments of $200.