Studying Science Around the World

Excerpted from the St. Lawrence magazine, Spring 2005

The numbers of American students studying in another country during their college careers has increased some 126 percent since 1991, according to the Institute of International Education, and it is estimated that about 170,000 college students study abroad annually.

About 40 percent of all students study abroad during their time at the University, including science students. Some recent examples:

Four students conducted research in China with Dana Professor of Biology David Hornung.

The group explored the interfaces between traditional Chinese medicine and allopathic (Western) medicine, with the goal of integrating the two healing traditions. Hornung and the students have in common some training in the use of the scientific method and an interest in allopathic medicine. All four students involved plan to attend medical school in the United States following graduation from St. Lawrence. Research was conducted at three primary locations in China: Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Hornung, who is a specialist in disorders of the taste and smell senses, says, “Chinese medicine looks at the body as a garden in which each section is a part of the whole. Thus each section of the body cannot be fully appreciated without a consideration of the whole. On the other hand, allopathic medicine views the body as a machine made up of parts that can be studied and replaced. It is not always necessary to consider the whole when evaluating function.”

Each student also conducted independent research on a sub-topic of their own choosing. Kristen Ross ’05, of Altona, N.Y., an ROTC student who will attend military medical school in Bethesda, Md., researched the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on battlefield and garrison medicine, considering how the emphasis on preventive medicine affects the way military physicians deal with acute and chronic problems in military personnel.

The experience was, Ross says, “phenomenal. I learned so much! You can read about someplace, but until you are there, you really have no idea what it’s actually like. We would never have been able to go on a trip like that without the research money.”

The viewpoints that students encountered differed from their own in ways beyond the academic, Ross says. “Our guide, a woman, said that she would never go to a female medical professional there; they trust men more. And there, because knowledge of and skills in ancient practices are acquired over many, many years, the older a medical professional is, the more respected he is likely to be. Here, we think older doctors haven’t kept up with technology. It's such a different way of looking at things,” Ross says.

Associate Professor of Biology Brad Baldwin has several times taught courses in marine biology in the Bahamas. The course Coral Reef Ecology “is designed as an intensive experience for students to learn about coral reef ecosystems, biodiversity and the use of these resources by Bahamians and international tourists,” according to the course description.

Participants don't spend all of their time on the island under water or on the beach, however. Baldwin and the students visit local schools while they are there, giving presentations on their work and getting to know some of what life is like for residents.

“The interaction between our students and these young Bahamians is amazing,” Baldwin says.

Because the area was hit hard by Hurricane Francis last fall, Baldwin and his wife, former faculty member Marilyn Mayer, issued a plea to the community during the holidays for donations to assist San Salvador residents. Books, teaching materials, laptop computers and other supplies were donated by those in the University community and beyond, and have been sent to the Bahamas.