![\"Emma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A7406903.jpg\")
Emma Clark, a junior earning degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, discusses her project with attendees at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)\t\t<\/p>\n\t\tEmma Clark, a junior earning degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, discusses her project with attendees at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)\t\t<\/p>\n
From refugee support in Central Europe to sustainability policy in Scandinavia, Florida State University students shared research shaped by firsthand global experiences at the annual Global Scholars Showcase.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thirty-three undergraduates presented independent research and community-based projects Dec. 5, 2025, in the Nancy H. Marcus Great Hall, marking the culmination of a yearlong program that blends international engagement with faculty-guided inquiry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Designing an independent research project or international experience is no simple undertaking. At Florida State, the Global Scholars Program<\/a> helps students turn global interests into structured, ethical research through close mentorship and academic support.\u00a0<\/p>\n This year\u2019s cohort presented projects ranging from sustainability culture in Sweden and the Netherlands to Ukrainian refugee support in the Czech Republic and efforts to strengthen information technology (IT) infrastructure at mental health clinics in Peru.\u00a0<\/p>\n As part of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE)<\/a> at FSU, the Global Scholars Program supports students in designing and carrying out independent, community-based learning opportunities. The program offers undergraduate students the unique chance to engage in experiences tailored to their specific global interests. Through internships, research, and service-learning projects, students can explore questions related to social impact, social justice and social change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGlobal Scholars is a sort of \u2018choose-your-own-adventure program,\u2019 where students are introduced to the idea that research is something that is inherently personal, yet still grounded to academic frameworks,\u201d said Cary Wall, associate director for global programming at the CRE. \u201cStudents design their own research in global contexts, engage directly with communities and carry projects from early ideas through public presentation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The program follows a three-phase structure that supports students before, during and after their experiences. \u00a0<\/p>\n In the spring semester prior to departure, students enroll in a preparatory course focused on the ethics of community-based work and qualitative research methods. \u00a0<\/p>\n The following summer, students participate in their chosen experiences. This can include an in-person or online internship with a social-impact organization domestically or internationally, or a self-directed research project addressing a social issue in a local context. \u00a0<\/p>\n The final phase takes place during the fall semester, when students reflect on their work, complete capstone projects and prepare to present their findings at the Global Scholars Showcase. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt the heart of Global Scholars is an ethos that urges students to ask questions rather than propose solutions, and to leverage research as a tool for engaging with issues of global and collective importance,\u201d Wall said. \u00a0<\/p>\n This year\u2019s cohort conducted research in 13 countries. \u00a0<\/p>\n Jordyn Bain, a junior studying International Affairs and Economics, presented her project \u201cFrom Arrival to Integration: The Role of NGOs in Assisting Ukrainian Refugees in Prague\u201d at the showcase. She studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, through International Programs\u2019 Human Rights and Social Work program. \u00a0<\/p>\n While there, she interviewed representatives from different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the area and found that community isolation, limited career opportunities and insufficient mental health resources most hinder the long-term integration of Ukrainian refugees in Prague.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d never done a professional research project like this before, so this program really did help me learn how to go about it ethically, especially since I was dealing with people from a different culture,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Sebastian Abril, a senior majoring in Psychology and Information Technology, presented his project \u201cThe Health, Technology, and the Passion of a Community: Modernizing Peruvian Healthcare\u201d at the showcase. He traveled to Cusco, Peru over the summer to intern at a mental health clinic through Proyecto Peru, an organization dedicated to supporting sustainable development in the country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While there, he found that health care workers at the clinic were spending unnecessary amounts of time doing tasks that could be significantly expedited with digital services. He found that an increase in digital infrastructure, government policy and education could enhance the efficiency of the clinic. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI like research and I like traveling, and this felt like the perfect blend of the two,\u201d Abril said. \u201cYou really can design your own research, but you always know that they (the Global Scholars Program) are right there to push you, keep you going and make sure that you\u2019re on the right track.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Kaetlyn Patnaude, a junior studying Environmental Science and Urban Planning, presented her project \u201cAllemansratten\u201d at the showcase, which looked at environmental justice in Sweden and the Netherlands, focusing on how cultural values and citizen mindsets shape these nations\u2019 approaches to sustainability.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n She started in Sweden, serving as a field technician at the Abisko Scientific Research Station. Located roughly 124 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the station hosts about 500 scientists annually who conduct research in ecology, biology and meteorology. Patnaude found this opportunity with the help of Jeff Chanton, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Sweden, Patnaude conducted interviews to explore how cultural values shape relationships with nature and perspectives on paths toward sustainable cities. The phrase \u201cAllemansratten\u201d kept coming up, a Swedish saying meaning \u201cevery man\u2019s right\u201d to nature which refers to a cultural principle allowing free access to uncultivated nature. The phrase made Patnaude seek to further understand the shift from cultural concept to policy, so, she enrolled in an urban planning course at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Next, Patnaude went to the Netherlands and enrolled in Delft University of Technology\u2019s \u201cSummer School Planning and Design for the Just City.\u201d The program combines spatial planning, urban design and environmental technology to tackle issues of spatial justice, sustainability, climate adaptation and water management in urban transitions to sustainability. \u00a0<\/p>\n For Patnaude, the course helped her understand how urban planning projects in the Netherlands influence environmental governance and urban sustainability transitions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really learned a lot about communication and talking to people from different cultures,\u201d Patnaude said. \u201cI feel like I can talk to anyone now and approach interactions with curiosity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Natalia Arroyo, with Social Work and Political Science last semester, presented her project \u201cBridging Communities in Tallahassee: Through Education, Refugee Support and Justice\u201d at the showcase. Focusing on how education, refugee resettlement and legal advocacy work together to strengthen community systems, Arroyo drew from three different experiences to combine the lessons learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n From working with the International Rescue Committee to supporting refugees in Tallahassee to serving as an early childhood educator for underprivileged kids and helping victims of violent crimes through the State Attorney\u2019s office, Arroyo found one common theme: that compassion in the structures of social services is key to creating lasting change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDay-to-day things might be a little more difficult for other individuals,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing empathetic and an advocate in the workforce, no matter what you decide to go into, can really make a difference.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n For more information about the Global Scholars Program, visit cre.fsu.edu\/global\/globalscholars<\/a>. To read the Global Scholars blogposts, visit hsfhouseblogs.fsu.edu\/blog\/global-scholars\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fabianna Silva (left), a sophomore pursuing two bachelor\u2019s degrees \u2014 one in Theatre and another one in International Affairs\/French \u2014 discusses her project with an attendee at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Lauren Afong (right), a sophomore pursuing two degrees in Public Health and Biological Sciences, discusses her project with an attendee at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Kaetlyn Patnaude, a junior studying Environmental Science and Urban Planning, discusses her project with an attendee at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Jasmeen Santos-Ramirez (left), a junior pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, discusses her project with an attendee at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Angel-Amon Wildgoose (right), a junior pursuing a degree in Media Communication Studies, discusses her project with an attendee at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Elisha Wisdom, a junior earning a degree in International Affairs, discusses his project with attendees at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Fabianna Silva, a sophomore pursuing two bachelor\u2019s degrees \u2014 one in Theatre and another one in International Affairs\/French \u2014 presented her project \u201cArt? Or Anarchy? Street as a Form of Expression, Rebellion, and Public Discourse in Paris\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Elisha Wisdom, a junior earning a degree in International Affairs, presented his project \u201cMosaics of \u2018Me\u2019: Navigating Otherness and Blended Cultural Identity\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Lauren Afong, a sophomore pursuing a dual degree in Public Health and Biological Science, presented her project \u201cHow the Affordable Care Act Shaped Primary Care Utilization Across Washington, D.C.\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Angel-Amon Wildgoose, a junior pursuing a degree in Media Communication Studies, presented her project \u201cVoices of the 6ix: How Media Communicates Black-Canadian Hip Hop\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Shiv Patel, a junior studying Exercise Physiology, presented his project \u201cBeyond the Algorithm: Using AI to Bridge Disparities in Radiation Oncology Toxicity Assessment\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)Ava Jones, a sophomore studying Digital Media Production and Political Science, presented her project at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Emma Clark, a junior earning degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, discusses her project with attendees at the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[56740,56741,56742,49700,56743,56744,56745,56746,56747,56748,56749,56750,232,234,233],"class_list":["post-111335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-anne-spencer-daves-college-of-education-health-and-human-sciences","tag-center-for-undergraduate-research-and-academic-engagement","tag-college-of-arts-and-sciences","tag-college-of-business","tag-college-of-communication-and-information","tag-college-of-fine-arts","tag-college-of-social-sciences-and-public-policy","tag-college-of-social-work","tag-department-of-earth-ocean-and-atmospheric-science","tag-division-of-undergraduate-studies","tag-fsu-global","tag-global-scholars-program","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Overview](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A7407039.jpg\")
Members of the 2025 Global Scholars cohort present their projects to attendees at the Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n![\"Jordyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A7407045.jpg\")
Jordyn Bain, a junior studying International Affairs and Economics, presented her project \u201cFrom Arrival to Integration: The Role of NGOs in Assisting Ukrainian Refugees in Prague\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n![\"Sebastian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sebastian-Abril.jpg\")
Sebastian Abril, a senior studying Psychology and Information technology, interning at a mental health clinic in Cusco, Peru. (Global Scholars blog)<\/p>\n![\"Kaetlyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A7407000.jpg\")
Kaetlyn Patnaude, a junior studying Environmental Science and Urban Planning, presented her project \u201cAllemansratten\u201d at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n![\"Natalia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A7407006.jpg\")
Natalia Arroyo, who graduated in the fall with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Social Work and another one in Political Science, discusses her project with attendees at the 2025 Global Scholars Showcase. (Brittany Mobley\/Division of Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n