I am working on a global affairs
project that examines the relationship between poverty levels and support for
environmental norms. My project is two-fold: first, I will be conducting a
general survey on poverty levels and environmental values; second, I will be
examining two specific countries to use as case-studies, focusing on
state-society relations and its role in environmental negotiations. As my
mentor, Professor Byunghwan Son has been instrumental in helping me through my
project ideas, asking me to elaborate my ideas, all the while providing his
expertise in the form of crucial feedback.
My assignments have involved
compiling information, searching through academic papers and news headlines for
material relevant to his research project. Not being the most familiar with the
Southeast Asia region, I’ve learned a lot about the Asian Infrastructure and
Investment Bank (AIIB), Korean business, and the benefits of trade for this
region. China’s regional influence is of huge concern to America’s allies I the
region, like South Korea and Japan, so reading about China’s moves toward
regional dominance has been very interesting. Being a global affairs major,
keeping up to date on events going on around the world is extremely important
for my career—working with Professor Son has solidified my understanding of
this dynamic region. The skills I’ve gained include efficient methods of
searching, effective representation of information, and helpful ways to
catalogue data for easy reference. Considering that entry-level positions in my
field are assistantships of some kind, I feel that my time with Professor Son
is preparing me for any future collaboration I may have, either with another
individual, or with a group of researchers. Either way, our exchange of ideas and
knowledge excites me about the future prospects of my career.
