International Programs
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) program for US graduate students
Canberra 13-15 June 2012
the Shine Dome, Australian Academy
of Science, Canberra
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) program provides US graduate students in science and engineering first-hand experience to conduct research in Australian laboratories and to initiate personal relationships with their Australian counterparts. The program also introduces the students to Australian science policy infrastructure and orientation to the culture. The program is being funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education and the US National Science Foundation (NSF).
The Academy was pleased to welcome 20 American graduate students to Australia for the 2012 EAPSI program, co-managed by the Academy and the US National Science Foundation.
An orientation program in Canberra marked the beginning of the students’ stay in Australia. The Academy organised a series of lectures and site visits to cultural institutions as part of the orientation program. The highlight of the orientation program was a visit to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve where the students saw native Australian animals in their natural habitat and learned about life in Australia before European settlement.
The participants of the program came from a number of research areas, and were hosted by various institutions including universities, CSIRO divisions, museums, teaching hospitals and government institutions. Professor Neil Trudinger FAA from the Australian National University was among the Australian hosts of this year’s EAPSI Fellows.
The host institutions provided the students with office accommodation, access to laboratory, library and computing facilities, access to major equipment and special apparatus, as well as technical assistance and the time and expertise of the host researcher.
As part of their visit, the Academy put together a three-day orientation program in Canberra for the students. Many of the students took some time to travel around Australia on a holiday to see important Australian cities and sites.
For more information on the EAPSI Summer Program, including application forms and deadlines, please visit the EAPSI website (http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284).
If you are interested in hosting a US graduate student please contact the International Programs section at the Australian Academy of Science, email shannon.newham@science.org.au, phone (02) 6201 9460.
