Central Washington University and the National Science Foundation (NSF), in cooperation with the Center for Historical Environment and Socioeconomic Development of Shaanxi Normal University, the Northwest Socioeconomic Development Research Center at Northwest University of China, and the Qinghai University for Nationalities announce the call for applications for the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates(REU) program GREAT WESTERNDEVELOPMENT, RURAL PEASANTS, AND WATER POLICY ACROSS CHINA'S LOESS PLATEAU for summer 2009. This unique program in social science research will be conducted in Ellensburg, WA, Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi provinces of China in the summer of 2009. Twelve highly-qualified undergraduates and a team of faculty mentors will undertake collaborative research on how economic development and societal change is impacting China's already precarious environmental position across the Yellow River loess plateau. The seven-week program will be conducted between June 16 and August 4, 2009.
The program's primary objective is to mentor students through the complete process of designing a research agenda and performing primary research in the social sciences at an international field site. It includes a unique combination of close mentoring, student/faculty teamwork, multidisciplinary research, and international field experience. Student participation will be encouraged from all fields of the social sciences including sociology, anthropology, geography, environmental studies, economics, political science, Asia-Pacific studies, history, and land/resource management. Juniors and non-graduating seniors are particularly encouraged to apply. Graduate students are not eligible. Applicants are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Faculty mentors include Richard Mack (economics), Hong Xiao (sociology), and James Cook (Asian Studies) of Central Washington University, and Roberta Soltz (biology). We will also be working with a large team of Chinese researchers and students.
Costs of participation (travel, room, board), including the payment of a significant research stipend, will be paid by the program. Student participants are responsible for their travel to/from Central Washington University, passport and visa fees, and personal incidentals.
Deadline for applications is April 20, 2009. Additional information and application forms can be found at http://www.cwu.edu/~studyabroad/faculty-led.html . Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution/TDD.