Mexican students conduct science and engineering research at KU through inaugural summer program


Wed, 08/07/2019

author

Christine Metz Howard

LAWRENCE — This summer, nine students from the University of Sonora, Mexico, participated in the KU-Sonora Summer Research Program in Global Perspectives, an eight-week program designed to provide research opportunities for students and introduce them to graduate life in the United States.

The inaugural summer program was formed in partnership with the University of Sonora. Daniel Tapia Takaki, KU associate professor of physics, was the program director, and KU International Short Programs provided daily life cultural support and program logistics.

Students conducted 30 to 40 hours of on-campus laboratory research each week under the supervision of KU faculty advisers in physics, chemistry, biosciences and electrical engineering. Participating faculty included Marco Caricato, assistant professor of chemistry; Hume Feldman, chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy; KC Kong, associate professor of physics; Andrew Williams, associate dean for diversity, equity & inclusion at the School of Engineering; Judy Wu, Distinguished Professor of Physics, and Jorge Soberon, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.

The students attended a weekly seminar where KU faculty members discussed their research in disciplines across campus, including from the Department of Linguistics, Spencer Museum of Art and the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies. The program also hosted several cultural and social events.

This successful program helped deepen KU’s relationship with the University of Sonora by giving academically strong students from Sonora an opportunity to see first-hand all that KU has to offer graduate students in the fields of science and engineering while providing a chance to experience life on campus,” said Margaret Coffey, director of International Short Programs.  

Sponsors of the program were the University of Sonora and Sonora state government as well as the KU Office of the Provost, Dean’s Office of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Photo: Participants of the KU-Sonora Summer Research Program in Global Perspectives, pictured left to right: Edgar Salazar Canizales, Analila Luna Valenzuela, Salvador Gutiérrez Ruelas, Sabrina Sotelo Pedroza, Daniel Tapia Takaki, program director; Patricia Quiroz Reyes, Mitzi Sánchez Cubedo, Alejandro Pedroza Montero, Michelle Contreras Cossio, Luis Duarte Gonzali, and Margaret Coffey, director of International Short Programs.

Wed, 08/07/2019

author

Christine Metz Howard

Media Contacts

Christine Metz Howard

International Affairs