Water Resources
International Perspectives
by Marian Muste
Marian Muste
International Perspectives course participants during the May 2007 field trip in China.
Since 1997, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering (IIHR) has offered the International Perspectives in Water Resources Research and Management study abroad course. Each year the course focuses on a country or a world region for an intensive and in-depth exposure to technical, historical, cultural, social, economic, ethical and environmental issues that impact planning and execution of water projects.
Recognizing that water resources issues transcend political boundaries and that most major water resource development projects are taking place outside of the United States, IIHR organized this course to introduce students to the realities and complexities of issues related to water and the environment.
Motivation
Today’s globally interdependent world requires a scientific and engineering workforce that collaborates with colleagues of diverse backgrounds across national boundaries and time zones. The need to strengthen international training of young American scientists and engineers has never been greater than it is today. It is emerging as a high priority issue in research and education. The need for understanding and collaboration, not competition, is even more acute in water resources management, because water does not recognize political or administrative boundaries. Modern management of water resources requires increased transboundary collaboration among multidisciplinary specialists from all countries within a watershed.
Marian Muste
International Perspectives course participants during the May 2007 field trip in China.
Students, young scientists and professionals, and even junior faculty in engineering and sciences do not have the variety of international program offerings available in social sciences, humanities and business. Despite National Science Foundation’s international initiatives, such as doctoral dissertation enhancement projects or summer institutes, it is obvious that they are not sufficient to engage future generations of U.S. scientists and engineers in first-hand professional experience beyond our nation’s borders. A major obstacle in designing international activities for students is that they are fully engaged in research studies in their home institutions and it is difficult for them to be absent for extended periods that most existing international programs require. New programs that are specifically tailored for undergraduate and graduate students are therefore needed.
Course Background
IIHR is widely recognized as a world-leading institute in higher education and research in fluid mechanics, water resources engineering, and hydrology, hence, it is particularly well placed to launch and maintain such an initiative in international education. In addition, IIHR research staff has a very active international presence through their participation in conferences and symposia, and by building strong alliances with large international hydraulic communities.
International Perspectives was initiated by former IIHR director V.C. Patel. Preparation and delivery of the course is always a collaborative effort between IIHR faculty and staff, and international friends in the country to be visited. The course’s great success is also due to enthusiastic and meaningful support provided by IIHR’s alumni international network – that includes 755 alumni in 55 countries around the world – and academic and research international partners with whom IIHR has formal agreements of collaboration – 25 memoranda of understanding with foreign institutes. Today the course is spearheaded by current IIHR director Larry Weber and I. Nearly 100 students of various backgrounds have participated in the seven courses offered so far. Past destinations included Argentina, China (twice), Eastern Europe, India, Japan, Taiwan and Turkey. View individual offering of the course over the years at the IIHR website. The next course will take participants to Egypt in the winter of 2008.
The course entails a wide spectrum of in-class and field activities, including an introductory lecture series, on-site workshops, field trips, cultural activities and networking, class projects and follow-up meetings. Thus far, IIHR has borne the costs for organizing and conducting the course, with limited support from the University of Iowa Graduate College and the College of Engineering. Students are asked to pay about half of the total cost of their participation. Currently, the course organizers are working with International Programs to improve academic aspects of the course, include it in the International Programs calendar, and ascertain its long-term sustainability.
Course Direct Impacts
The course provides technical and international activities that engage yearly about 10 to 15 U.S. scientists and engineers early in their careers in first-hand professional experience beyond the nation’s borders, preparing them for careers that are becoming increasingly global. The course academic credit may be used in degree requirements for water-related disciplines with international dimensions. Paralleling host country particularities with the American perspective in water resources management will add an international dimension to existing curricula that immediately and positively impact the quality of teaching, learning, and professional growth opportunities in various ways.
Teaching
The multidisciplinary international professional interactions facilitated by the course benefit instructors by sharing research results and brainstorming implementation of water resources strategies from a diverse and complementary perspective. These activities could lead to innovative solutions to water resources issues threatened by human and natural effects that can be implemented in policies and practices both in the U.S. and the visited countries.
Learning
The course uniquely strengthens participants’ technical preparation by providing hands-on illustrations of the manner in which water resources management interfaces with socio-political, economical, sustainability and international practices and policies. Most of the visits and workshops in the foreign countries included in the course are not accessible to the public, being especially tailored for the course needs.
Bringing together U.S. and foreign participants from different disciplines sharing an interest in water and exposing them to practical demonstrations uniquely enhance their decision-making capabilities. Such an interdisciplinary and applied approach to the water resources management instruction is difficult to achieve in the classroom.
Professional development
International Perspectives offers participants global perspective and opportunities for professional growth on the international arena. Using current global communication technologies, personal contacts initiated during the visits can be subsequently converted in long-term direct and third party international networks that facilitate collaborations, ideas and resource sharing, and life-long friendships.
The academic credits given by an internationally known organization formally recognizes a level of proficiency in the global context that can considerably impact participants’ career development. This course can uniquely contribute to preparing a well-qualified, globally-engaged workforce that can take over project works conducted by specialized companies overseas or worldwide missions in specialized international agencies.
Course Broader Impacts
Marian Muste
International Perspectives course participants during the May 2007 field trip in China.
International Perspectives engages engineering students, faculty and administration in study abroad experiences similar to their counterparts in literature, political and social sciences, providing a blueprint for international educational experiences for engineering disciplines. In this case, focusing on water resources is particularly appropriate because of the multidisciplinary and often international interactions necessary to mitigate water-related problems.
Dissemination of the course pre-visit lectures, of the materials exchanged during the visits, and the post-visit research reports through a dedicated Web site and, more importantly, participant presentations at their home institutions positively impact those who do not directly participate in the course. The scientific exchange and direct interactions facilitated by the course help maintain the U.S. at the forefront of world science and engineering. Visiting countries around the world with a young and diverse U.S. group directly contributes to demonstrating the national strength, openness and desire of involvement in critical aspects of an increasingly interdependent world.
Marian Muste received his Master of Science degree in civil engineering from The Polytechnic Institute of Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1980. After working two years as a professional engineer, he joined The Polytechnic Institute of Cluj-Napoca as assistant and associate professor in the civil engineering department.
He returned to school in 1991 to get a Master of Science degree in 1993 and a doctorate in 1995 from The University of Iowa. Since 1995, he has been with IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering at the UI as a postdoctoral research scientist, from 1995-1998, and research engineer since 1998. At IIHR Muste’s main interest focuses on experimental hydraulics and fluid mechanics and hydrologic information systems.
A natural extension of his research activity began in 1997 when he got involved in instruction as coordinator of the College of Engineering Fluids Laboratory and instructor for Experimental Methods in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. Since 2005, he has been the instructor for the International Perspectives course.