Board 39A: Improving Engineering and Social Science Students’ Research Efficacy and Career Motivation in Sustainable Development through International and Transdisciplinary Research Experiences

Bettina Jeanine Casad; Monica Palomo,; Erika Robb Larkins; Natalie Mladenov; Matthew E. Verbyla

Download Paper | Permalink

Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Civil Engineering Division (CIVIL) Poster Session
Tagged Division: Civil Engineering Division (CIVIL)
Page Count: 17
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43128
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/43128
Download Count: 259

Paper Authors

biography

Bettina Jeanine Casad University of Missouri, St. Louis orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-1977

visit author page

I am a social psychologist with expertise and research interests in Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology. I work with scientists and engineers to develop and evaluate education and traning programs to recruit and retain dive

visit author page

biography

Monica Palomo, P.E. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

visit author page

Professor

B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Gto, Mexico, December 1999, summa cum laude.

M.S. Civil Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, May 2003.

PhD. Civil Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS , May 2008.

Dr. Palomo is currently a Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). In this position, Dr. Palomo is responsible for teaching courses such as Introduction to Civil Engineering; Hydraulics; Water and Wastewater Treatment; Groundwater Mechanics; Research Experience of Undergraduate Students; and Engineering Outreach Service Learning courses, among others. She is also a faculty advisor for the California Water Environment Association (CWEA), and Engineers Without Boarders (EWB) student chapters. Additionally, Dr. Palomo is the CE Water Analysis laboratory director and coordinates all teaching, research and safety training activities in the engineering laboratory. Dr. Palomo conducts research in surface water quality improvement via natural treatment systems, water and wastewater treatment processes, and water education. She is involved in outreach programs for K-12 students to increase the participation of Hispanic female students in STEM fields

visit author page

biography

Erika Robb Larkins

visit author page

Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology

visit author page

author page

Natalie Mladenov

biography

Matthew E. Verbyla San Diego State University

visit author page

Dr. Matthew E. Verbyla is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at San Diego State University (SDSU), where he directs the Safe WaTER Lab (safewater.sdsu.edu) and teaches courses on the introduction to environmental engineering, water and wastewater treatment systems, and microbiological processes of environmental engineering.

visit author page

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

Environmental challenges caused by climate change, population growth, and urbanization require transdisciplinary solutions that incorporate skills from the fields of science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), as well as the social sciences and humanities, with a perspective of sustainable development. Given the novelty and global nature of these challenges, students’ development of transdisciplinary research skills, global competencies, and intercultural abilities is extremely important. The impact of short-term international and transdisciplinary research experiences on students’ development of these skills and abilities has not been well studied. We used a mixed methods approach to assess the extent to which six-week interdisciplinary summer research experiences in Brazil improved the self-efficacy, identity, sense of belonging, cultural competency, attitudes, and career intentions of US undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. Research placements were either field-based or lab-based and often involved interactions with community members in low-income urban communities. Pre- and post-trip surveys and interviews with participants revealed increases in research self-efficacy, motivation to use technology, and intention to pursue careers in sustainable development. The research experiences did not have a significant effect on the participants’ professional identities, their attitudes toward interdisciplinary research, nor on their teamwork efficacy. Many participants already had a high perceived sense of belonging in their respective fields and high measures of cultural competencies before the international experience, and there was no significant increase in those measures after the trip. The research experience inspired one respondent to perceive sustainability to be a “luxury or privilege” that people from developed countries can consider, whereas people living in poverty (e.g., in Brazilian favelas) cannot afford to worry about.

Citation
Format

Casad, B. J., & Palomo,, M., & Robb Larkins, E., & Mladenov, N., & Verbyla, M. E. (2023, June), Board 39A: Improving Engineering and Social Science Students’ Research Efficacy and Career Motivation in Sustainable Development through International and Transdisciplinary Research Experiences Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43128

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Environmental challenges caused by climate change, population growth, and urbanization require transdisciplinary solutions that incorporate skills from the fields of science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), as well as the social sciences and humanities, with a perspective of sustainable development. Given the novelty and global nature of these challenges, students’ development of transdisciplinary research skills, global competencies, and intercultural abilities is extremely important. The impact of short-term international and transdisciplinary research experiences on students’ development of these skills and abilities has not been well studied. We used a mixed methods approach to assess the extent to which six-week interdisciplinary summer research experiences in Brazil improved the self-efficacy, identity, sense of belonging, cultural competency, attitudes, and career intentions of US undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. Research placements were either field-based or lab-based and often involved interactions with community members in low-income urban communities. Pre- and post-trip surveys and interviews with participants revealed increases in research self-efficacy, motivation to use technology, and intention to pursue careers in sustainable development. The research experiences did not have a significant effect on the participants’ professional identities, their attitudes toward interdisciplinary research, nor on their teamwork efficacy. Many participants already had a high perceived sense of belonging in their respective fields and high measures of cultural competencies before the international experience, and there was no significant increase in those measures after the trip. The research experience inspired one respondent to perceive sustainability to be a “luxury or privilege” that people from developed countries can consider, whereas people living in poverty (e.g., in Brazilian favelas) cannot afford to worry about.
AU  - Bettina Jeanine Casad
AU  - Monica Palomo, P.E.
AU  - Erika Robb Larkins
AU  - Natalie Mladenov
AU  - Matthew E. Verbyla
CY  - Baltimore , Maryland
DA  - 2023/06/25
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Board 39A: Improving Engineering and Social Science Students’ Research Efficacy and Career Motivation in Sustainable Development through International and Transdisciplinary Research Experiences
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/43128
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--43128
ER  -