Learn more about this exciting initiative, aimed to connect Human Ecology students around the world, in a conversation between Michael Feng, fourth-year student at College of the Atlantic, and Richard Borden, professor at College of Atlantic and PAST-PRESIDENT at Society for Human Ecology.

What is the Human Ecology Student Network? How did the idea come about? 

Richard: Ever since the beginning of the Society, students have attended SHE’s international conferences, become members, and received a subscription of Human Ecology Review.  At conferences -- many have delivered papers and presented posters.  

In 2009, at the SHE-XVII Conference in Manchester UK, we began a tradition of giving a student award for the best paper and poster.  During recent international conferences – e.g. SHE-XIX (Canberra, Australia), SHE-XX (Bar Harbor, Maine).  SHE-XXI (Santa Ana, California).  SHE-XXII (Los Banos, Philippines) and SHE-XXIII (Lisbon, Portugal) – there has been discussion of how to support student involvement and connections between conferences.  

In planning for the SHE-XXIV (in Brazil), we wanted to have a special session to explore these ideas in depth.  Unfortunately, the plans for our 2020 in-person conference had to be postponed due to covid; but a very successful 2021 online meeting did take place from October 17th to 23rd, in which there was a good group of students who took part.  Michael, who helped to put it together, can report on that.

How has the network been articulated and how many countries have taken part?

Michael: As of now, our global student network project operates through a Google Group with 40 members. We consist of university students—from undergraduate to doctoral—currently enrolled in Human Ecology programs in Brazil, the U.S., the Philippines, Sweden, and Portugal. 

Richard: A year or so ago, I invited a dozen or so of my SHE colleagues at universities in the U.S, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America to suggest a few potential students they knew who might wish to reach out to each other.  Out of this a number of exchanges and meetings occurred.  So far, I think that the processes have been mostly preliminary and exploratory.  But some meaningful connections have been established, though the future is yet to be determined.  

What have been the biggest achievements and challenges? 

Michael: In terms of the work of our project team, a milestone was reached by having a draft vision document for the student network. When it comes to general networking, the greatest thing that has happened so far—thanks to the organizing committee of the SHE International Conference this year—was witnessing around 50 attendants during the conference's student session. Overall, our biggest challenge is maintaining continuity in our collective engagements.

Richard: The level of participation and excitement in the SHE-XXIV (Brazil) on-line gathering seemed promising.  It seems to me that one challenge – also shared throughout the international human ecology professional network – has to do with the coordination and timing, e.g. different time-zones around the world, different seasons and academic calendars between north and south hemispheres, multiple languages etc.  These are long standing factors in the Society’s history; but they are also part of the joy of sharing human ecology perspectives from around the world.  I think our Brazilian (SABEH) and Latin American (SOLAEH) human ecology colleagues did a magnificent job of hosting a bona fide worldwide (virtual) event -- using careful scheduling, multi-language presentations and interactive sessions.

What are the Network's plans for the future and how can students learn more and participate?

Richard: I hope to see the experimentation continue.  This coming winter (January – March), I will be teaching my COA seminar in human ecology, in which I plan to make international networking a part of the class’ project.  Another possibility could take advantage of SHE’s webpage and build a permanent interactive component, where students can talk and share interests -- combining simultaneous, recorded and asynchronic ways.  I remain hopeful that some type(s) of an international student forum on human ecology will develop – during future SHE conferences, via internet exchanges, or within web-based formats. At the same time, my wish is for it to be by and for students. The work done so far by Ana, Michael and others has been exciting and promising. In sum, I hope that they will continue to serve as coordinators and help to fashion a self-sustaining community of interests.

Michael: In general, we would like to see more organic network activities take place once a formal engagement platform is set up.

join us!

SEND AN email TO "shestudent2021@gmail.com" and ask to be added to the network's current contact list. YOU WILL START receivING updates on the network's development efforts AND WILL BE ABLE TO use the Google Group to share about projects or events that YOU would like others to be involved in.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU!