The countdown has begun! The McDonnell Scholars are packing their bags for the University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia to make their mark at the 6th McDonnell International Scholars Academy symposium, “Addressing Global Challenges Through International Collaboration in Education and Research.”
The symposium, hosted by UQ and Washington University in St. Louis, will focus on aging; food, water and climate change; energy and the environment; and public health.
A few of the McDonnell Scholars weighed in on what they’re most looking forward to at the symposium:
Andrea Balassy, Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (PhD)
“The main thing that excites me about being a participant of the symposium is to learn how certain solutions for global issues are approached in different countries. I’m interested in the way people make decisions in order to tackle the emerging challenges. Additionally, I am looking forward to meeting the other students, melting into the multicultural environment and exploring their perspectives about these critical global issues.”
Balassy is a Scholar from McDonnell Academy Partner Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Xinyi Du, Architecture (MArch)
“In my best wishes, the symposium will encourage people to put aside their bias, be patient and listen to others and work together towards a win-win solution of the crises we are facing.”
Du is a Scholar from McDonnell Academy Partner Tsinghua University
Hsun-Chia Hsu, Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
“I think the most exciting part of this symposium is having this opportunity to learn and discuss the most important global issues at one of the leading universities in the world in a city which is one of the best places to live in.”
Hsu is a Scholar from McDonnell Academy Partner National Taiwan University
Learn more about the McDonnell Academy Symposium.
Read more of our McDonnell Scholar perspectives