International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award
The International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award recognizes KU faculty members who have provided outstanding leadership in international education through their research and discovery efforts at KU. The award includes $1,000 in funding for professional activities and is financially supported by the advisory board of KUIA in recognition of the faculty member’s ongoing efforts to internationalize their research and create transformative models that inspire colleagues to engage in the internationalization of their own research programs and collaborations. Award recipients will be invited to give a campus talk on their work in the fall semester.
Nominations will be solicited at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester.
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Competitive nominees will demonstrate excellence and transformative impact across several internationalization areas, including:
- Playing a creative and innovative role in internationalizing research at KU in fields that fall outside area or cultural studies or foreign language curricula. Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics fields and research or performance work within professional school programs are of particular emphasis.
- Developing field-relevant high-impact research experiences for students, such as fieldwork opportunities focusing on international populations or topics, involvement of students in international archival research opportunities, or exposing students to international research teams on campus and/or beyond.
Leveraging international partnerships and networks to advance research programs through the hosting of international scholars, creating multinational research teams, and/or sharing knowledge and resources through the formation of multinational research collaborations.
Demonstrating community impact through international community action-based research projects, involvement in the development of high-impact policy changes or developments in the United States or abroad, and participating in international conferences and symposia.
Engaging in research outside the U.S. or with colleagues from institutions located outside the U.S.
Acquiring external funding to support international research efforts at KU.
Mentoring faculty and students in the area of internationalizing their research.
Nominations are solicited toward the beginning of each fall semester. All documentation and letters of support should be specific to this competition. A faculty committee appointed by KU’s senior internationalization officer will review applications. Past nominees may be renominated if not selected for the award previously.
The following materials are required for new nominations, as well as renominations:
- A one- to two-page letter of nomination including a description of the activities that qualify the candidate for this award.
- A résumé or vitae for the nominee.
- Up to six statements of support from KU colleagues, students, and/or partners abroad.
Recipients of the International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award
Rafe Brown, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
As a leader in equitable and collaborative international research and education, Rafe Brown, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, was the inaugural recipient of the KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award. The award recognizes faculty members who provide outstanding leadership in international education through their research and discovery efforts.
As an undergraduate, Brown had his first formative international travel experience in Indonesia. For the past 20 years, he has led KU students on study abroad experiences in Indonesia, Costa Rica, China, Mongolia, the Solomon Islands, Cameroon, and the Philippines. With support from KU and the U.S. National Science Foundation, Brown has maintained a 30-year research program in the Philippines, focusing on biodiversity, conservation of amphibians and reptiles, and island biogeography.
Read more about his international research and partnerships.