I was in Malaysia during the first week of January 2012 for a family visit, and while there I gave a brief seminar at the Universiti Putra Malaysia on international graduate research and about my experiences working at Columbia University. I was invited to speak at the Institute of Advanced Technology by Dr. Abdul Rashid Shariff, who taught “Geographic Information in Developing Countries” during my graduate studies at the Institute for Geoinformatics at the University of Muenster in Germany.
At the seminar, I gave a brief overview of my experience at Columbia then delved into the crux of the talk, which was centered on international graduate research in geography. Here, I’ve summarized key points of the talk in the form of FAQs.
Q1: How do I become involved in international scientific research?
International exposure cannot be over-emphasized in research because it sets the stage for collaborations, stimulates sharing of knowledge and advances science. An idea, concept, or procedure that has the potential to advance a topic can only do so the more people know about it. Below are six points that can aide you become more involved in international research:
There are several international organizations that have a geographic focus. Note that despite the fact that some organizations have “American” or “European” in their titles, they do have an international scope.
- American Geophysical Union
- European Geophysical Union
- American Association of Geographers
- European Associate of Geographers
- International Geographical Union
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- ESRI International User Conference
- Ecological Society of America
- Society for Conservation Biology
- Society for Conservation GIS
And many more, just remember… Google is your friend.
Q2: How do I contact researchers whose work interests me for collaborations or studentships?
When contacting a researcher for collaborations and/or studentships, there are three crucial points to consider:
Relevance: The email you send must have a strong relevance to whatever subject you intend to contact the recipient about. This means that the email should be focused, to the point, and should be pertinent to the recipient’s capabilities and/or interests.
Mutual Benefit: If the email is geared towards the solicitation of a studentship, then it should highlight what you are willing to offer in tandem with what you expect to gain from working with him/her.
Cultural Differences: There are subtle cultural norms that drive communication in different parts of the world. What is acceptable practice in one place may seem off-putting in another. Make sure your email does not contain any demands (e.g. “First, I want…”), expectations (e.g. “I hope you can help me”), general salutations (e.g. “Dear Sir/Madam”), or spelling errors.
Q3: How do I get exposure for my work apart from publishing in respected international academic journals?
Most universities provide web spaces for faculty, staff, and graduate students (e.g. www.university.edu/department/last.name/). Ask your university IT administrator on how to get a web space. If your university does not offer one, then there are other ways to acquire one. For example, there are numerous blogging websites that offer free accounts e.g. WordPress, Blogger, Typepad, and others. This website was created using WordPress. Use the web space to highlight the general scope of your work, the projects you are currently working on, your CV and contact information. If you are adventurous, you can also add a blog where you regularly write about topics that are related to your profession.
- Abdulhakim Abdi
