GLOBES Fellows
Cohort 3
The GLOBES program is pleased to announce the third cohort of GLOBES fellows who begin their program of studies in Fall of 2008.
Cohort III (Fall 2008)
Thomas Buschman
Sociology
Tom earned a BA in History of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 where his thesis examined the origins and motivations of Catholic resistance to eugenics in America. Tom’s GLOBES research, currently in its infancy, hopes to address the social realities that impact both how Western medicine is brought to the developing world and how it is (or isn’t) accepted there. Dove-tailing with his study of the sociology of religion, Tom is specifically interested in faith-based health initiatives and what the beliefs of the health care providers or those ultimately funding the providers might mean for the health care offered. “GLOBES is a perfect fit for my research agenda as it embraces the benefits, if not necessity, of a multidisciplinary approach to tackling the world’s most pressing problems,” Tom said, later adding “plus, GLOBES people are awesome and we have the best acronym by far of any IGERT program.”
Tom also enjoys watching movies and trying to bicycle (though not simultaneously). One day he would like to bike the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, walk the E3 path from Spain to Bulgaria, and cross the Pacific Ocean in a sailboat.
Craig Kinnear
History
Craig is a 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a B.A. in History. His undergraduate senior thesis explored the longstanding recreational interests associated with the history of wilderness advocacy, legislation, preservation, and management of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. He developed an interest in the environment during his formative years spent in Duluth, MN. “Growing up in northern Minnesota, I had always assumed that the wilderness that surrounded me was the ultimate expression of the natural world. Environmental history taught me to think more critically about how society’s understanding of nature shaped these landscapes I grew up in,” he explains.
For his dissertation, Craig is interested in investigating humankind’s historical relationship with nature further and thinks that the effects of tourism and recreation will continue to play an important role in his research. He cites the ecological damage being done by the growing tourism industry as what gives his research exigency. He thinks that the “real world” approach to environmental research in GLOBES is a great way to apply an historical perspective to a contemporary issue. He elaborates, “Doing GLOBES research will definitely make it easier to apply my research to environmental issues that are actually taking place right now.”
When Craig is not in the library, he keeps busy with various hobbies. An avid runner, he gets out for a jog as often as he can and is currently exploring new places to run in the area, as well as jumping into an occasional road race. He likes reading good books and watching good movies, and you can usually find him spending his down time relaxing with friends.
Clayton Sadler
Economics & Econometrics
Clayton received his BA in Economics from St. John Fisher College in 2008, with a minor in Political Science. While at Fisher, he had the opportunity to participate in a study of conflict and competition in U.S. federal elections, which sparked his interest in the economic aspects of political conflict. Clayton is particularly concerned about the future political and economic challenges faced by the developing world. Climate change will put immense pressure on developing economies, which will cause political instability for many states. He hopes the interdisciplinary approach fostered within GLOBES will increase his understanding of the relationship between climate change, economic conditions and political stability and lead to more effective solutions to the problems facing the developing world. Clayton is excited to be a part of the interdisciplinary environment provided by GLOBES, and looks forward to meeting and working with the other GLOBES fellows.
On the rare occasions he is not working, you may find Clayton playing video games, searching for something interesting and unusual, or biking.
Mia Stephen
Biological Sciences
Mia holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame (2003). Undergraduate research and service practicums enabled her to explore a wide range of water resource issues, including drinking water access in rural Haiti, desertification of the American Southwest, and the effects of invasive crayfish on lake ecosystem function in northern Michigan. After graduation, Mia served as an analyst with the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC.
Mia is delighted to return to Notre Dame as a part of the GLOBES program and as a member of Dr. Jennifer Tank’s stream ecology lab. Her research will broadly address the role of streams and rivers in processing nutrient and sediment inputs from the terrestrial landscape. A more complete understanding of these ecosystem functions will help inform watershed management, particularly in urban and agricultural contexts. She says of the lab’s current partnership with The Nature Conservancy, “These types of interactions help ensure that the academic community is tackling questions that have both intellectual merit and practical importance.”
In her free time, Mia likes to pick up new hobbies. Among other things, she's working on keeping her basil plants alive, winning a 5K, and honing the art of urban composting.