McMaster Fellows (2006-2007)

BELIZE
Professor Spiro Mavroidis, Assistant Professor of Biology, will continue environmental monitoring to assess impacts on the New River Lagoon and surrounding 260,000 acre preserve in Belize. Research will involve identifying pollution sources that may have detrimental consequences to the seemingly pristine area. Student Scholars would have the opportunity to research any aspect (e.g., scientific, economic or social) of this multidimensional problem, namely environmental conservation in an underdeveloped country.

Professor Mary Ann Studer, Assistant Professor of Physical Science, Associate Dean, McMaster School for Advancing Humanity. Studer will be working with agricultural communities on the periphery of the Rio Bravo Conservation District to compile an agricultural survey and to develop a soil quality monitoring program for the indigenous community of San Carlos. Professor Studer will be developing a ‘needs’ assessment based on quality of life for the same community. Working within a framework of Integrated Natural Resource Management, scholars will be able to support the efforts of the Rio Bravo Conservation District through applied interdisciplinary research conducted both within and on the periphery of the preserve.


CAMBODIA
Dr. Jo Ann Burkhardt, Assistant Professor of Education. This proposal will continue the work begun with under- trained teachers in Cambodia during the 2004-05 and continued during 2005-06 academic years. For the 2006-07 academic year the project is to be implemented with the teachers in two rural schools located outside the city limits of Phnom Penh. It would be the intent of the project to utilize the teacher training manual developed and translated into Khmer for the 2005-06 projects with the teachers in the two rural schools.

Professor Jeffrey Weaner, Professor of Social Work and Sociology. The purpose of this research proposal is to examine the social, economic and psychological factors which lead to the successful transition of Cambodian women, from violent relationships to independent self-sufficient living. This project will take place at the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center in Phnom Penh and will also investigate how this research can be used to validate, improve or expand those services offered in Phnom Penh. The project seeks to expand to an additional agency setting to accommodate student research and service in the disciplines of social work and criminal justice many of our students' professional interests are in this area.


GUATEMALA
Diane Kaiser, Coordinator of Field and Clinical Experience, Education. This is a proposal to continue the work that we have begun toward developing a community library in Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Anibal Westendorf, Director of Colegio Shaddai School, is willing to provide space at the school in order to open a community library. McMaster Scholars could develop projects aimed at making the library a reality, design research and service initiatives in partnership with the directors and teachers at Colegio Shaddai, or propose a project related to other discipline-based interests.


ISRAEL and the PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Dr. Michael Spath This proposal is to investigate potential partnership between Abuna Chacour, President of Mar Elias Educational Institutions and Defiance College. The leaders of the Christian communities with whom Dr. Spath will be working at Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI), the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB), and Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center are each, in their own ways, not only in the religious and spiritual development of their people's lives, but also in a holistic perspective – the protection of human rights, the development of water resources and arable farmland and orchards, justice issues in the courts, sustainable economic development, the cultivation of the arts, theatre, and music, the education of children of all ages in educational institutions, and the offering of empowerment and enrichment programs for women and children. Dr. Spath will support scholar research from multi disciplines e.g. social work, science, religious education.