18 IU students work abroad as Fulbright Scholars

IU Ph.D. student August Costa has been studying Stone Age archeology since he arrived in Bloomington in 2005.

After years of dedication, it is finally time for him to lay off the books and experience the reality of his study – a six-month dig along the coastline of India.

“Actually being out in the field and doing what I’ve spent all this time preparing for – it’s huge,” Costa said. “For everyday in the field, there is 30 days of preparation behind it.”

Costa is one of 18 IU students who received Fulbright scholarships to research abroad in 17 different countries during the 2009-2010 academic year. While many of the scholars have already delved into their research, having left during the fall semester, others departed this past weekend.

Costa spent Saturday topping off his luggage and finalizing his travel plans – his flight to India was on Sunday.

“I have this enormous trunk,” Costa said, “I don’t know what to take so I am taking everything ... a bunch of rubber boots to research in river valleys. I’ve heard they don’t sell rubber boots in India.”

In India, Costa will be studying at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he will develop his dissertation. His research is based on a theory about a prehistoric migration that occurred between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago – a hot topic in the field of archeology that could uproot the last decade of research on the origins of modern humans, Costa said.

“I will be looking at a specific spot along the coastline of India to study whether the first humans from Asia migrated first to Africa or Europe like past research claims,” Costa said.

His six month stay will involve field research, carbon dating sites, excavation and analyzing artifacts.

Though both are Fulbright Scholars working on dissertations, Ph.D. student Jennifer Boles’ experience overseas will be quite different than Costa’s. Boles left for Mexico City on Friday, a trip that will last an entire year. While Costa will be knee-deep in ancient Indian river valleys, Boles will be streaming vibrant video amidst urban chaos.
Boles’ dissertation will focus on the cultural history of an obscure film movement in the 1970s that consisted of a group of radical students using their films in political ways. Her research will include many oral interviews, archival work and film editing.

“They have a lot to tell from that period of time, in a place that is clouded with misconceptions,” Boles said.

The Fulbright program is designed to facilitate this kind of cross-cultural understanding, where there is a free exchange of ideas, according to the program’s Web site.

In line with the goals of the program, Costa will lead a workshop in India to teach local archeologists about replicating prehistoric stone tools, a facet of study that is used widely in the U.S but not in India, he said.

Fulbright is the largest U.S. international exchange program, operating in 155 countries and awarding 7,500 grants abroad every year, according to the program’s Web site.

Paul Fogleman, the Fulbright Program adviser for the IU Bloomington campus, describes the benefits of the program as far-reaching, creating enhanced language ability and research skills, as well as deep cultural understanding. He also said the program stands out on resumes.

Though the fieldwork and research topics are varied and expansive, the training the Fulbright scholars received on IU’s campus will facilitate their success abroad, Fogleman said.

“I think there is a general awareness on campus of the importance of creating international opportunities,” Fogleman said. “Programs and faculty on campus provide students with the tools they need.”

He said one important tool is that IU offers many languages that are not offered elsewhere. This was especially beneficial for recent IU graduate Joe Dodson, a Fulbright scholar who has been studying in Swaziland, Africa since August. At IU, Dodson studied Zulu, an obscure African language, for two years.

Costa also benefited from the work he did at IU.

“As far as the training goes, I know IU has prepared me as an archeologist,” Costa said. “But I don’t think anything can really prepare you for the cultural aspect of it.”
Culture shock is a common worry for those going abroad.

“It’s a different pace of life,” Boles said, “Mexico City is a very vibrant and unpredictable place.”

Boles joked that her mother is worried about safety in what some consider to be a crime-ridden area.

“She watches Fox news, she’s really worried,” Boles said.

Having been in Africa for more than five months now, Dodson warns the recent departees that there will be a steep learning curve at first and adjustments will have to be made.

“I would recommend that they be aware that their project will not turn out like they are expecting it to,” Dodson said. “Once you get in the country, things will inevitably be different; be open to the possibility of reworking your project.”