Geological Survey Ireland is pleased to continue the partnership with Fulbright Commission of Ireland through Scholarships and Studentship awards for Irish based researchers visiting the US, and US-based researchers visiting Ireland. The worldwide purpose of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual respect and understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries through educational and cultural exchange.
The Fulbright Commission in Ireland annually awards grants for Irish citizens to study, research, or teach in the U.S. and for Americans to do the same in Ireland.The Fulbright-GSI collaboration awards offer travel and subsistence to geoscience researchers hosted by a geoscience institute to carry out research and develop trans-Atlantic partnerships.
Since the partnership was established in 2015, Fulbright and GSI have granted eleven (13) geoscience Scholars and Students Awards, six (8) incoming and five (5) outgoing (see table below).
Outgoing
| Incoming
|
Ms Saskia Ryan, TCD > Harvard University
Strontium Isotopes: A detailed assessment of element cycling through the biosphere
| Prof Yildirim Dilek, Miami University > UCC
Probing the Magmatic & Wilson Cycle evolution of the Iapetus oceanic crust in the Irish caledonides
|
Dr Helen Lewis, UCD > University of Washington
Geoarchaeology and traditions of practice in the EU and USA: gaps in (inter)national standards and training in cultural resources management
| Dr Andrew Pilant, US EPA >TCD
Environmental Remote Sensing and Satellite Image Analysis Using Deep Learning
|
Dr Aggeliki Georgiopoulou, UCD > USGS Woods Hole
Submarine Landslide Scar Investigations using Diving Equipment and Structure for Motion Techniques (Slidesee)
| Dr David Moecher, University of Kentucky > TCD & UCD Beyond Zircon – Developing Novel Methods for Assessing Sedimentary Recycling Using Detrital Minerals. |
Mr Gavin Kenny, TCD > Boise State University
Understanding the role of impact cratering in Earth's evolution through high-precision geochronology
| Dr Jennifer Jones, East Carolina University > GSI
Documenting archaeological sites affected by coastal erosion/CHERISH
|
Dr Brenda McNally*, TCD > Arizona State University
Advancing Public Perceptions of Geothermal Energy in Ireland
| Prof. Tracy Frank*, University of Nebraska-Lincoln > NUIG Paleoclimate archives in Irish limestone |
| Prof. Kamini Singa*, Colorado School of Mines > UCC
Peering Into the Black Box of Surface Water-Groundwater Systems: Distinguishing Controls on Arsenic Transport with Electrical Geophysics
|
| Prof. Nancy Riggs, University of Arizona > TCD & GSI
Leveraging Technology and New Geophysical Data to Address Long-Standing Geologic Controversies and Providing New Opportunities in Volcanology to Irish Students
|
*Visit cut short/delayed due to Covid restrictions
The Fulbright Geoscience/Earth Science Student/Scholar Awards (outgoing) are grants for Irish/E.U. postgraduate student, scholar or professional living in Ireland to travel to the U.S. to study or research in all fields of Geoscience over a period of three (Scholar)/four (Student) to twelve months. Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Geoscience or a related subject, be and active researcher or a professional with 5 years relevant experience.
"The GSI-funded Fulbright has two main important contributions. Firstly, it promotes cultural exchange that is incredibly valuable to all parties. Secondly, it exposes Irish or Ireland-based researchers to a whole new geoscience community, bringing skills and knowledge that we would otherwise lack back to our host institutions. (…) I benefitted from seeing how a high-calibre scientific laboratory operates (…) perhaps more importantly, seeing how a driven but also happy research group operates. These are skills that cannot be taught but can only be gained through scholarships/studentships such as this, which give us exposure to different approaches positions."
Gavin Kenny, GSI-Fulbright awardee 2018
"The GSI funding provided an important opportunity for international experience and collaboration with US scholars in my field and beyond. This is crucial to academic research development and is also an advantage when applying for competitive funding calls. I believe that the Fulbright Scholarship award greatly contributes to my record of achievement as an academic. (...) It has helped fast-track my career and provided me with the contacts and resources to develop a new area of research in my chosen field of climate politics and communication."
Brenda McNally, GSI-Fulbright awardee 2019-2020
"It is a unique experience and a great opportunity for Earth Scientists to link up with colleagues in the US. I got to work in the USGS where there would be no other way for me to be part of as it is a Federal Organisation, and I could only ever work there as a US citizen. My life was enriched for having experienced the American culture, my confidence was boosted because I got to impart my ideas and knowledge to an organisation as big as USGS and we eventually published a paper which has led to another four papers following that."
Aggeliki Georgiopoulou, GSI-Fulbright awardee 2018
The Fulbright Geoscience/Earth Science Scholar Awards (incoming) are grants for U.S. citizens to undertake research or lecturing in Ireland over a period of six to ten months. Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Geoscience or a related subject, teaching experience at a third-level institute, a proven track record in research activities, and a minimum of three peer reviewed publications independent of their PhD supervisor.
"This scheme is an excellent way to spark international collaborations that would be unlikely to occur otherwise. There are very few ways to fund such collaborations."
Tracy Frank, Fulbright-GSI awardee 2020
Although Covid provided some additional strains to the project in terms of getting to meet people in person initially, all in all, GSI and associated collaborators made it all work. The professional and personal support afforded to me during this time but was extraordinary and helped me follow through with finishing the project and working on ideas after its conclusion. "
Jennifer E. Jones, Fulbright-GSI awardee 2022
More information on the application for the Fulbright-GSI award here (Geoscience/Earth Science | Fulbright Scholar Program (fulbrightscholars.org))