Office of Global Engagement Fall 2024 Newsletter

All International Students and Scholars are invited.

The Fulbright Program offers life-changing experiences that provide academic, professional, and personal growth by connecting highly qualified U.S. professionals with host institutions around the world, fostering the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and cross-cultural understanding. Here’s a glimpse of what you can gain through the program—along with a success story from UIC’s very own 2024 Fulbright Specialist.

Dr. Samuel Dorevitch, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences for UIC’s School of Public Health, served as the Fulbright Specialist in Nepal for September 2024. Dr. Dorevitch’s primary research interest aims to improve water quality and health at the community-scale. Read Dr. Dorevitch's News Highlight!

Q1: What did you do on your Fulbright Specialist experience in Nepal?

Dr. Dorevitch: I spent much of September 2024 at the Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, and its sister institution, the Phutung Research Institute, which share a campus in Kathmandu. As a Fulbright Research Specialist, I was matched to an overseas institution that was looking for somebody to teach engineers and microbiologists about water quality from the perspective of public health. I delivered several interactive lectures about waterborne disease outbreaks and environmental epidemiology methods for water and health research. I also shared my experience establishing solar-powered drinking water treatment systems in Kenya. I gave the students hands-on experience with interactive web-based tools and water quality, disease burdens, and progress towards meeting the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals in Nepal.

Q2: What insights did you gain from your host institution colleagues or your host country’s culture?

Dr. Dorevitch: Nepal has many highly trained and innovative researchers in the water/sanitation space. While governmental funding for such research is very limited, they are entrepreneurial and very focused on improving conditions in their country. They are also creative, finding low-cost ways to accomplish some impressive feats of engineering. It seems that public health and civil/environmental engineering are fairly distinct disciplines, and I hope I helped them bridge some knowledge gaps. At the same time, the water challenges, natural resources, economy, culture and roles of government in Nepal are quite different than those in the US, and in Kenya (where I do research). Those factors have tremendous impacts on population health. I teach a course in Global Environmental Health in the School of Public Health, and will bring aspects of my experience in Nepal to the classroom.

Q3: What follow-on activities are you and your host planning together?

Dr. Dorevitch: We’ve already begun the process of being able to share technology between our institutions so that collaborative projects can begin. I’m also interested in deploying a real-time sensor developed in Kathmandu to monitor water quality in the water treatment systems in Kenya.

Q4: What surprised or delighted you about your host country?

Dr. Dorevitch: I’ve been to Nepal before, so I knew a bit about the country’s natural beauty, delicious food, and the cultural richness. I was able to spend a couple of days hiking in the foothills of the Himalaya above the Kathmandu valley. I’m always delighted by the generosity, hospitality, and sense of humor of the people in Nepal.

The Fulbright Specialist Program supports Nepali institutions through grants to bring U.S. Specialists in selected disciplines to Nepal for two to six weeks. Past Specialists have supported host institutions by conducting activities such as trainings and professional development, short-term lecturing, seminars, special conferences or workshops, teacher training, collaborating on curriculum planning, institutional and/or faculty development.

What can you gain from the Fulbright Program?

Cultural Immersion: Live, study, and work in a foreign country, gaining a deep understanding of its people, customs, and traditions.
Global Research: Conduct pioneering research in top institutions and gain access to international resources.
International Collaboration: Work with global professionals and scholars to tackle shared challenges.
Academic and Professional Growth: Grow your career in new, dynamic environments while developing leadership and advocacy skills.
Leadership Development: Fulbright scholars take on roles that allow them to effect change in their host communities while building leadership skills.

Ready to Change the World? Discover UIC’s Fulbright Scholars Program! Please visit the Fulbright Scholar Program website for more information.

DISCLAIMER: This site/blog of the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) is not an official site of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author OGE and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State, or any of its partner organizations.

What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

2024 Piergiorgio L.E. Uslenghi Global Engagement Awardees

UIC Network for Global Scholarship, Research and Creative Activities

If you are seeking to develop new or expand your existing international research and scholarship, please visit the UIC Network for Global Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity to find colleagues who are already working in your target countries or disciplines.

How to Submit Your Recommendation:

Who can be nominated?
UIC students, faculty, or staff involved in global initiatives, international research, cross-cultural programming, or any impactful global work.

What to include in your recommendation:

1. Name and role of the nominee.

2. A brief description (150-200 words) of their contribution to global engagement.

3. How their work is making an impact within or beyond the UIC community.

Submit your recommendation by filling out our online form https://oge.uic.edu/globalengagement-spotlight/

Diverse Student Body: UIC is one of the most ethically and culturally diverse universities in the U.S. It serves more than 34,000 students from all over the world, making it a hub for global education and engagement.
Research Excellence: UIC is a leading research institution, classified as a Tier 1 research university. It receives over $400 million annually in research funding, advancing work in areas such as health sciences, engineering, and social justice.
Urban Location and Community Impact: Located in the heart of Chicago, UIC plays a major role in the community. Its partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies make a significant impact on the city's development, while offering students real-world learning experiences.