Grant to UH to Support Environmental Research and Collaboration in Southeast Asia

With support from a LuceSEA grant, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa will launch a new initiative—in partnership with the East-West Center—to examine social and environmental transformations in urban and agrarian areas in Southeast Asia. In addition to supporting research, a principal aim of the project is to enhance collaboration and parity with early-career scholars in Southeast Asia by creating digital educational resources and offering opportunities for professional development and mentorship.

The Henry Luce Foundation recently awarded $1 million to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Miriam Stark, director of CSEAS, will direct “LuceSEA Transitions: Environment, Society and Change” in partnership with the East-West Center (EWC) to explore socioeconomic and environmental shifts that are transforming Southeast Asian societies in a time of accelerated climate and environmental change.

With support from the Luce Foundation, the UH/EWC team will:

1. Enhance collaboration and equality with Southeast Asia-based research partners by embedding training and collaboration opportunities into research and professional opportunities;
2. Support Southeast Asia-based workshops to share information and help early career researchers develop professional skills;
3. Develop and make available college-level Southeast Asia curricular resources on environmental issues and agrarian transitions as Open Educational Resources and for-credit online courses available using digital technology.

The project will create close mentorship programs that transcend institutional boundaries through joint fieldwork, professional training, conference participation and scholarly publication.

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