Howard University News August 31, 2017 Howard University Students Conduct Research in Taiwan A unique Howard University student research led by sociology and criminology professor Dr. Terri Adams traveled to Taiwan this summer to research decision-making practices of emergency managers during natural disasters. The ongoing project examines of the impact of risk perceptions of emergency managers and the public during natural hazard events, such as typhoons and other severe precipitation events. The research is part of a multi-institutional nterdisciplinary project supported by the National Science Foundation's Partnerships in International Research and Education Program, or PIRE. Dr. Adams is associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology and also deputy director of the Howard University's NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. Sociology sophomore Jayda Farmer and political science sophomore Christian Hall worked under the direction of Taiwanese scholar Ya-Pin Lyu at the Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute. The students were afforded the ability to travel to villages throughout the Taiwan conducting face-to-face interviews and collecting survey data with community members. The project was designed to provide Howard University students with the opportunity to advance the research collaborative between Drs. Adams and Lyu and provide the students with an enriching research and cultural opportunity. According to the Institute of International Education, only 5 percent of students studying abroad are African American. "Studying in Taiwan was just a tiny glimpse into a world different from mine," Farmer said. "It opened my eyes to the experiences of people across the globe. This is the kind of research I hope to continue doing abroad in years to come." Hall described the experience as unforgettable. "The best part of my experience was the strong bonds formed with locals in Taiwan," Hall said. "We met people from various backgrounds, including people from indigenous tribes and transplant residents from other countries abroad. Learning more about what drives other people is priceless and unforgettable." Three graduate students also worked on the project, including Shadya Sanders (pursuing a doctorate in atmospheric sciences), Kenya Good (pursuing a doctorate in sociology), and Jesse Card (pursuing a master's degree in sociology). Sanders said traveling to Taiwan helped her better understand the cross-cultural aspects of work she has been engaged in the United States. "I have been extremely excited about this project all year and about building a research partnership with Taiwanese institutions," Sanders said. "The opportunity to collaborate in person was a wonderful experience - as opposed to late nights or early mornings Skype sessions. The future work we are planning should really achieve our research goals." Research conducted this summer will provide the groundwork for the collection of additional data in the United States and Taiwan. Drs. Adams and Lyu and the graduate students continue to meet via Skype on a weekly basis. Plans are also underway to return to Taiwan in early 2018. For more information about the project, contact Dr. Terri Adams at tadams-fuller@howard.edu<mailto:tadams-fuller@howard.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/