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 Scripps Collection specimens Photo: Marc Tule
Training Program - IGERT/Interdisciplinary PhD
Global Change, Marine Ecosystems and Society
By their nature, global change issues demand a high level of interdisciplinary awareness and the ability to communicate research results effectively to a wide range of audiences. Our program sees to produce the next generation of scientists who achieve the research pedegree required by their department and also have the depth of knowledge and familiarity with related fields to communicate their research broadly and develop and implement effective solutions to global change challenges. Our educational model consists of five elements that are tightly integrated with the research themes.
First, we expect all students to have at least one committee member from the social sciences/humanities, and one from the natural sciences.
Second, we offer a 10-week summer course . The summer course introduces the research themes of the IGERT, the faculty and their research, that define the research areas that students will pursue. The intensive nature of the course also helps form a tight cohort of students that promotes student-retention by fostering a lasting culture of mutual support, and initiating cross-disciplinary research partnerships.
Third, we offer a series of IGERT-themed courses that are intended to deepen the understanding and cross-disciplinary communication established in the summer class. Regular interchange of ideas among students is facilitated by a student-led “IGERT Forum” seminar class that meets throughout the academic year.
Fourth, students are required to participate in a group research project, built around the IGERT Process studies, that brings students from different disciplines together to address an interdisciplinary theme in the IGERT project. Each group will develop an interdisciplinary position paper or publication that incorporates scientific and social scientific data and perspectives, and potentially contributes to student Ph.D. research topics. The projects will be presented at an annual IGERT symposium, posted on the SIO/IGERT website, and submitted for publication.
Fifth, students are required to participate in an internship that is intended to provide experience in aspects of the science, policy, economics or social dimension of their research topic and so broaden the tools and experience that students bring to their dissertation work.
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