Hi Jason, 

Thank you for viewing our video. Yes, we are interested in establishing a pipeline. Your program is great and could definitely offer proper preparation for new graduate students interested in this research. We should keep in contact. 

-DeeDee

Hi Dr. Eaglin, 

Thank you for viewing our video. Yes, this is year two for us and the students were able to learn about the needs specific to the area and develop relationships with on-site partners. This year (in June), the students are able to return to work on dedicated projects identified by researchers and community leaders on the ground. During the year (from 2018 to 2019), the students joined on conference meetings with the St. Thomas Recovery Team to learn and assist, as requested. We hope to develop remote projects that students can assist with virtually, going forward. 

-DeeDee

Thank you for sharing your project on the importance of interdisciplinary research and having underrepresented STEM and social science students involved in solving problems in post natural disasters. Are the same students continuing the projects this year or new students? Do the returning students serve as mentors/project leads to familiarize/train new students? 

Hi Danielle, 

Thank you for visiting our video. The same students are continuing on the project this year. We held a kickoff in February to introduce the new students with the returning students. Together they met with our partners in St. Thomas and learned about research and service project needs on-the-ground at the kickoff. [Much of the video shows the activities during the kickoff].  The returning students have assisted in sharing the knowledge of the community partners and location (as well as the overall structure for the initiative). However, the projects were identified by our community partners and SURGE team leadership, based on student skillset, passions, and interest. The team decided on this structure based on our collective impact approach to involve all stakeholders, but we wanted to be sure the needs of our partners were prioritized. We want to extend the program to include undergraduates in the future - and plan to incorporate near-peer mentoring between graduate and undergraduate students.

The first cohort of SURGE scholars remains in the program and is collaborating with the second cohort. They have not been formally assigned as mentors to the incoming students in terms of one-on-one mentor matches, but the intention is that they will bring knowledge and insights gained during the program's first year to bear on the activities that both cohorts of students undertake moving forward.

Thanks for your kind remarks, Marcelo! One of our students’ primary objectives for their boots-on-the-ground activities has been to utilize their collective academic lens to assess local needs and support efforts that are being driven by local groups. For example, in their meetings with representatives of the St. Thomas Recovery Team and the University of the Virgin Islands last summer, the students helped to conceptualize a food security project as a means of addressing broad concerns that emerged about the island’s heavy reliance on imported goods in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricane season. Our partners have since received an external grant to equip and promote home and community gardens tended by island residents. This summer, with local leaders at the helm of that newly stablished project, our students will provide data collection support and technical assistance for its implementation. They will work closely with our partners to share knowledge and ensure a cross-fertilization of ideas as an intentional departure from the “parachute research” approach that so often plagues disaster-stricken communities. We are continually inspired by their enthusiasm and mindfulness!

Hello Nnenia, thank you for sharing your project. It's great that there has been an external grant to fund an idea conceptualized by the students. How are you assessing the impact of the program on the local community partners and sustainability model? 

Hi Danielle,

Thanks for your interest in our program! The first stage of partnering was assessed primarily using qualitative methods, including participant observation and interviews with local partners as part of the students' first trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The food security grant proposal incorporated plans for the local program manager to collect baseline data related to beneficiaries' food access, expenditures, and gardening knowledge with the idea that these data points could be used to measure progress toward program targets over time. The SURGE leadership team has not yet secured a funding mechanism to sustain ongoing student engagement beyond the INCLUDES grant period; however, we are hopeful that a proposal under review will provide a pathway toward this goal.

Thank you for sharing and best on securing additional grants!

Dear Molly,

Thank you for viewing our video and your enthusiasm for our project. We are extremely excited to see how this type of engagement my both broaden participation and assist in solving our pressing challenges. 

DeeDee

Dear Salvador,

Thank you for your kind words and taking the time to watch our video. You raise an excellent question. Based on very recent conversations, I believe that the SURGE team leaders may be able to contribute advice to other researchers working with community partners - and I think it's worth at least a journal article.  The first piece of advice is to listen to the community, they will tell you what is needed. Their priorities should drive your engagement, especially post disaster.

DeeDee

Dear Tricia,

Thank you for your kind words, support of SURGE, and viewing our video! 

DeeDee 

Dear Wanda,

Thank you for viewing. We have links to key resources on disasters and post disaster reconnaissance on our website: www.surgedisasters.com

DeeDee 

Dear David McEntire,

Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to view out video. This has been a team effort. In fact, two of our scholars took the lead on creating this video! They had all of the equipment ready and were eager to contribute.

DeeDee