Discussion: Exploring Research Transformations via International Partnerships
Heythere! The MIT Global Seed Funds (GSF) program encourages collaborative global research, focusing on addressing complex worldwide issues — think climate change and healthcare challenges. Since its establishment in 2008, it's dished out over $26 million across more than 1,200 faculty research projects. Administered by the MIT Center for International Studies (CIS), GSF operates via a unique combination of a general fund and country-specific funds — making it an excellent match for diverse research projects.
CIS sat down with two GSF grant recipients, Profs. Josephine Carstensen and David McGee, to chat about their experiences with the program.
Josephine Carstensen, an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT, focuses on generative design algorithms for low-carbon, large-scale structures. On the other hand, David McGee, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), specializes in reconstructing historical hydro-climate patterns.
Q: How did the Global Seed Funds program help you establish international partnerships?
Carstensen admitted that one of her projects involves unlocking complex cast-glass structures, a feat requiring close collaboration with experts who know a thing or two about casting and fabricating glass structures. TUDelft in the Netherlands is just that kind of specialist outfit. The initial connection between MIT and TUDelft actually started with one of Carstensen's grad students. During a conference, he got a whiff of TUDelft's awesome work and proposed a synergistic partnership. Connecting the dots then led them to Global Seed Funds.
McGee's research is based on fieldwork collaborations and is typically carried out with experts familiar with various local environments, from lake basins in Chile and Argentina to caves in Mexico, Vietnam, and Madagascar. It goes without saying that Global Seed Funds proved invaluable in establishing relationships with these partners and universities across different locations.
Q: Tell us more about your GSF-funded research projects.
Carstensen's lab thrives in the virtual realm, with very little real-world testing happening on-site. The fella's rarely seen leaving the lab with a structural sample in tow. But thanks to GSF's connection with TUDelft, they could level up their testing game by working hands-on with TUDelft's experts, learning new approaches, and sharing expertise. You could say that it was a match made in heaven (or at least at a conference).
McGee's team has primarily focused on reconstructing historical climate impacts on global rainfall patterns, using natural archives like lake sediments and cave formations. One standout project involved caves in northeastern Mexico, a collaboration with researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a local caving group. This environmentally-friendly project provided educational opportunities for MIT undergrads, grad students, and even funded a research symposium in Mexico City.
Q: How has the GSF program boosted your students' academic growth?
Carstensen noted that her students benefited massively from this partnership, zipping off for international field trips and rubbing elbows with top-tier experts. One grad student, inspired by the experience, is even looking to continue his research journey overseas.
McGee's students got the chance to explore caves in Mexico and Chile, networking with local partners and bringing home valuable samples for further analysis. Several students leveraged the GSF-backed projects for their thesis topics, participating in UROP programs along the way.
Q: Any surprises pop up during your GSF-funded work?
Carstensen doubled down on the project's success, attributing it to its international nature. Both the MIT and TUDelft teams brought essential expertise to the table, making leaps and bounds in understanding each other's areas and forging plans for future partnerships. Pray for some co-authored publications soon!
McGee emphasized GSF's focus on mutual cooperation, with external collaborators visiting MIT and sharing their wisdom, an aspect typically underemphasized by other funding sources. In 2020, a visit from Argentinian researchers led to fruitful discussions with EAPS students and faculty alike. It's all about building a global network, y'all!
- The MIT Global Seed Funds (GSF) program fosters collaborative research on a global scale, addressing complex issues such as climate change, healthcare, and more.
- Since its inception in 2008, GSF has distributed over $26 million across more than 1,200 faculty research projects.
- CIS spoke with two GSF grant recipients, Professors Josephine Carstensen and David McGee, discussing their experiences with the program.
- Carstensen, an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT, works on generative design algorithms for low-carbon structures and collaborates with TUDelft in the Netherlands for casting and fabricating glass structures.
- McGee, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), focuses on reconstructing historical hydro-climate patterns and works with various local universities worldwide.
- GSF aided both Carstensen and McGee in establishing international partnerships, such as the synergetic partnership with TUDelft and various local universities.
- GSF-funded research projects have provided science education and self-development opportunities for MIT students, like international field trips and UROP programs.
- McGee's team's projects, such as the one on caves in northeastern Mexico, not only focus on climate impacts but also offer educational opportunities for undergrads, grad students, and research symposia.
- Carstensen's students gained significant academic growth from the partnership, exploring new approaches and sharing expertise with top-tier experts, while McGee's students benefited from networking opportunities and valuable samples for analysis.
