Thayne Covert '23: Multicultural Learning Competency

The Importance of a Multicultural Perspective in Global Engineering

As a member of the 2023 cohort of the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenge Scholars Program (NAE GCSP), my focus is on "Engineering the Tools for Scientific Discovery." One way I have been working towards this goal is through my participation in the University of Portland study abroad program in Salzburg, Austria during the Spring of 2020. In this essay, I will use this experience to reflect on how my time in Salzburg and my experiences since have related to my challenge and how they have helped me to better understand and approach the problem of engineering tools for scientific discovery.

Studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria during the spring of 2020 was an incredible experience that had a profound impact on me both personally and professionally. On a personal level, I had the opportunity to create lifelong friendships with people from my university outside my regular social circles, while also meeting people all over the world who I may have never had the chance to meet if I had stayed in the United States. Living and studying in a foreign country allowed me to immerse myself in different cultures and languages, which was a truly enriching and enlightening experience.

On a professional level, studying in an Austrian school gave me the opportunity to compare a European educational system with that of the United States. I found that the Austrian classes had a much greater emphasis on exams, which was something I was not used to. The lack of handholding by the Austrian education systems compared to that America meant that more responsibility was given to students to ensure they are learning what they need to be learning. However, despite these differences there were also many similarities in the way that subjects were taught, such as the universal language of mathematics, and how it is directly applicable all around the globe. This experience gave me a new perspective on education and helped me to appreciate the different approaches to teaching and learning that exist around the world.

Reflecting on this study abroad experience, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to see the world and step out of my comfort zone. This experience was a leap of faith for me and I am so thankful that I took it, especially since it was right before the Covid-19 pandemic. Through this experience, I learned that testing yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone is necessary for growth. It helped me to learn more about myself and to trust myself more.

This experience also had a profound impact on my view of the world and my global awareness. Living in a new city and immersing myself in a different culture allowed me to gain a new perspective on the world. I was able to see firsthand how people all over the world face the same basic challenges of wanting to have a roof over their head and put food on the table. However, I also learned that beyond these similarities, there are many differences in the ways that people approach these problems.

For example, I was struck by the advanced public transportation system in Austria, where you can travel all around the country via train and bus using a single app. Additionally, the small details to improve ease of use and increase accessibility really impressed me. The specific detail that caught my attention was the use of strips around public places to aid blind people in navigation around a city. These grooved strips were made out of stone embedded in the sidewalks, and someone could follow the direction of the grooves using a cane to navigate to a point of interest such as a crosswalk. These examples show how different cultures can offer alternative solutions to common problems, and that it is important to have a global perspective when approaching challenges.

Seeing the increasing restrictions abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic before eventually being sent home was a very rewarding experience. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to compare how multiple countries around the world all responded to a large-scale problem differently in real time. It was especially interesting to observe how different countries approached the pandemic and how the situation evolved over time. For example, compared to the United States, where the pandemic became a very politically divisive issue, in Austria, there were stricter regulations and policies in place, which helped to contain the spread of the virus. This experience gave me a valuable perspective on how different countries and cultures can respond to a crisis , and it helped me to understand the importance of effective communication and leadership during a crisis. It also made me realize how a crisis can reveal the strengths and weaknesses of a society, and how it is necessary to effectively communicate internationally to bring people together.

Having a multicultural mindset has greatly impacted the analysis of my particular grand challenge. I have learned just how essential it is to consider the international aspects of engineered solutions. The problems that Grand Challenges Scholars Program are attempting to address are global in nature, and diversity of people and ideas is required to ensure solutions that everyone can get behind. This fact is especially true when it comes to developing tools for future scientific discoveries, because these technologies are what shape our world going forward.

Again, looking at the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen the importance of international collaboration in the development of vaccines, while also highlighting the fragility of international supply chains and the need for more work to be done in this area. The cracks revealed in international collaboration and supply has reinforced my belief that reliable and sustainable connectivity is a goal we must work towards. From my experience, I saw firsthand how Salzburg is very central to Europe, and that Europe needs unity to solve its problems. Climate change is a perfect example. While progress is being made with the electrification of infrastructure, after experiencing the major heatwaves that occurred throughout Europe last year, I learned that new discoveries are essential. I hope to be able to develop these going forward.

Having a multicultural mindset has further solidified my desire to pursue the development of new technologies that lead to the discovery of solutions to the world's problems, such as climate change. My personal passion for the aerospace career field aligns perfectly with this goal and my challenge. Climate change is a perfect example of how new technologies can help us understand and address a global problem. As a mechanical engineer I can work toward this goal in almost endless ways, whether by developing new satellites to observe Earth, or by designing new launch vehicles that will make it easier for innovative technologies to be located in space.

In conclusion, my study abroad experience in Salzburg, Austria, has dramatically impacted the analysis of my grand challenge "Engineering the Tools for Scientific Discovery." The experience of living in a different country, interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and the multicultural mindset I developed have given me a new perspective on the importance of international collaboration and the role of technology in solving global problems. This broadened perspective has improved my ability as an engineer to be flexible and face any challenge.