Katie Kibler, a graduate student in Antioch University New England’s PhD in Environmental Studies program, was invited to attend the Socio-Environmental Synthesis Research Proposal Writing Workshop hosted by the Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), in Annapolis, MD, from September 28–30, 2015.
“I’m thrilled that Katie was invited to attend this workshop. It’s such a wonderful opportunity,” said Dr. Beth Kaplin, Kibler’s advisor and core faculty in the Department of Environmental Studies. “Katie is in her first semester of her second year of the PhD program. The selection process for this workshop is very competitive. However, she came to our program with a clear aim for her dissertation research and we began working right away on her research ideas. This focus allowed her to submit her proposal very early in her PhD program and made her a successful candidate for SESYNC.”
Specially designed for graduate students interested in the complex interactions between human and natural systems, the program offered by SESYNC is intended to support current PhD students in the natural, social, and computational sciences; liberal arts; communications; and business studies in their pursuit of novel, independent synthesis research at SESYNC in Annapolis, MD.
“I was honored to be chosen to attend this workshop. It was an incredibly valuable experience to network with other doctoral students and professionals engaged in this exciting, emerging, and innovative field of inquiry,” said Kibler. “As an interdisciplinary environmental studies program, I hope that other Antioch University New England students will learn about SESYNC and the important work they’re doing in fostering socio-environmental synthesis. I am grateful for the experience and the opportunity to grow as a socio-environmental scholar. It would not have been possible without the support I’ve received from the Antioch community.”
The Socio-Environmental Synthesis Research Proposal Writing Workshop (Tier 1) provided Kibler with:
- introductions to SESYNC, socio-environmental synthesis research, team science, and actionable science;
- networking opportunities to build professional relationships with other students, particularly those from different disciplines; and
- training sessions on the methods, challenges, and strategies associated with writing successful proposals, especially those related to the type of work SESYNC supports.
Katie Kibler is a second year environmental studies doctoral student at Antioch University New England. Before coming to AUNE, she served as an Environmental Action and Food Security Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. For her dissertation she is planning to work alongside traditional Rwandan communities to study the implications of diversified agriculture for both biodiversity and food security.
