Churros with JUROS was put on by the JUROS student organization to provide information on how to get involved with research as well as what makes a good researcher.  The panel of students both undergraduate and post graduate they had brought in for the event talked about how they personally got involved with research and the research projects they were either currently working on or had worked on in the past.  All of the students got involved with research either through recruitment by a professor, networking with other professors, federal work study, or independently.  To prepare for a research position, many of them agreed that practicing for the interview was very important and that practicing with a friend or in the mirror is the most beneficial.  Also, for the post graduate students who work with hiring on new research assistants, they stressed to us to look through previous publications from the lab and/or professor who runs the lab we are interviewing for.  It shows interest when you discuss it during the interview as well as the fact that you understood the research enough to be able to speak about it.  This last point is important because if you can demonstrate that you understand the study and data the lab is producing, then the head of the lab will be more inclined to bring you on as an assistant.  Another point the post graduate students stressed was being confident during the interview.  Attitude is important because it shows a willingness and ability to learn.

Some of the most important skills needed to be successful that the entire panel talked about were being ready to go and find answers to questions you do not know, asking for help when you need it, doing reading outside of what is required to broaden your knowledge, having an open mind and a good work ethic, having a motivation to always learn more, not being scared to mess up, and having time management skills, especially if the project is independent because it is all self-driven.

The last piece of advice the panel gave was saying that if you want to make significant scientific impacts, then you should stay in one lab for multiple years rather than a different lab each year.  This way you can hopefully see projects all the way through or close to publication.  Every research experience is valuable whether it’s in the field you’re interested in or not.  You choose what you take away from your research experience and how your experience goes.

This event relates to International Affairs because the research that is being done at OSU is having major impacts worldwide.  Research in general is highly global in itself because scientists and other types of researchers come together from many different countries to collaborate on projects and publish their work in the hopes that it will be implemented worldwide.

I chose this event because I recently changed my major to neuroscience, and I am looking for ways to get involved with research.  I really enjoyed everything the students on the panel had to say, and I thought it was very valuable attending this event.

Fashion Around the World was put on by the Office of International Affairs in Enarson to expose students to different styles of fashion and what defines fashion across the globe.  The event began with the presentation of six different countries and how their fashion had evolved over the years.  Greece had four distinct fashion periods while Malaysia, Colombia, and El Salvador remained constant with their traditional dress.  Nigerian fashion is unique because of all of the vibrant colors and tribal patterns that make up their clothing, and the U.A.E. is also unique in the fact that their choice of clothing is very strict.  The women wear black and the men wear white, and the majority of their skin is covered by the traditional clothes they wear.

After learning about fashion specific to certain countries, we talked about the fashion capitals of the world, which are New York, Milan, Paris, London and Tokyo, and we watched a video compilation of these cities’ fashion weeks showcasing modern fashion trends.  Some of the current trends for women are biker shorts with oversized blazers, mirrored sunglasses, chunky tennis shoes (usually white), and mom jeans with crop tops.  At the end we had a fashion critique session where we gave our opinions as to whether or not we were in favor of a certain fashion trend, and it was really interesting to hear other points of view.

This event relates to international affairs because it showcased different fashion trends and customs globally, and it gave us a more well-rounded perspective on what fashion can mean in different parts of the world.  I really enjoyed this event because during my years leading up to high school, I was considering fashion and design as a career path.  Project Runway was one of my favorite shows growing up, and my dream was to study fashion and eventually be on that show.  Also, this event made me think of my sister, who I haven’t seen since I left for college, because one of our dreams is to take a vacation where we visit all of the fashion capitals of the world.  This event was very special to me, and I really enjoyed everything the presentation included.