UC MEXUS-CONACYT 2009 Doctoral Fellows Symposium Synopsis
Three generations of Mexican students pursuing their doctoral degrees at eight of the UC campuses with the support of UC MEXUS and CONACYT gathered at UC Riverside on May 29, 2009, for the 2nd Biennial UC MEXUS-CONACYT Doctoral Fellows Symposium. The main objectives of the symposium were to provide fellows with an opportunity to establish ties with their UC counterparts and to assist them in making future academic and professional plans by connecting them with program alumni, accomplished Mexican researchers, and leaders from key Mexican institutions. Internationally-recognized Mexican scholars were invited to address topics of special concern to fellows who are nearing completion of their degrees and planning their return to Mexico.
Roberto Contreras Zárate, Director for Evaluation and Innovation at CONACYT, introduced the event by praising the UC-CONACYT agreement as one of its most successful in supporting outstanding students from all regions of Mexico at some of the world's top graduate departments. Keynote speakers Judith Zubieta García, Secretary of Educational Innovation at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and John Ackerman, Researcher at the Institute of Legal Research at UNAM, spoke about trends in investment for science and technology in Mexico, the challenges facing the country in its scientific development, and the problems and issues of political and legal transparency in contemporary Mexican society. Irma Eréndira Sandoval, Researcher at UNAM's Institute for Social Research and former UC MEXUS-CONACYT fellow, discussed the history and problems of corruption in government and administration as a challenge to Mexico's economic and political development.
The symposium also offered practical information about opportunities for employment and research collaboration between Mexico and the U.S. Program alumni discussed their experiences in seeking and securing employment internationally, and offered specific advice to current fellows who will be embarking upon the job search during a period of economic uncertainty. Students had numerous opportunities to interact directly with symposium participants, including UCR's Vice Chancellor of Research Charles Louis and UC MEXUS Advisory Committee Member Stephen Weller. In an effort to foster stronger ties between fellows and inspire future research collaborations, fellows were seated with students, alumni, and panelists with similar academic interests during the formal lunch.
Fellows who attended the symposium said that it offered a truly unique forum for the exchange of ideas and very valuable space to reflect on the place of science and technological development in Mexico. Though each of the invited speakers presented distinct and, at times, controversial perspectives on current social, political, and scientific issues, fellows valued the dialogue sparked by bringing together such prestigious and passionate Mexican scholars. A number of students also indicated that in addition to leaving with more information about topics specifically of relevance to UC MEXUS-CONACYT fellows, they also felt more optimistic about their chances at securing employment in the global job market. One fellow noted that the invited speakers and panelists gave "hope" and "something to look forward to" as they near completion of their degrees. Many fellows also commented on the great benefit of meeting with colleagues from other campuses and having an "excellent opportunity" to build a tight-knit community of binational and international scholars.