Wellington Project Center featured in Fulbright Newsletter

In the Spring 2025 issue of Bright Sparks, a Fulbright New Zealand newsletter, Wellington, New Zealand Project Center Directors Ingrid Shockey and Michael Elmes (a 2005 Fulbright senior scholar who studied in New Zealand) highlighted the work WPI students have undertaken in the Wellington region. Starting in 2011, Elmes leveraged his Fulbright award to explore collaborations in Aotearoa.  Projects emerged in climate change adaptation in fragile riparian and coastal regions, innovations for land management practices, wildlife protection, and museum outreach.  Over time, the partnerships have expanded to include Māori allies with sponsors such as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Department of Conservation, Zealandia, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Te Kawa a Māui-School of Māori Studies at Victoria University, among others. Students gain experience in joint problem-solving, deepen their understanding of Māori culture, and recognize the importance of face-to-face dialogue. These encounters immerse STEM learners in the complexities of real-world decision-making, exposing them to the subtle nuances that shape collaborative outcomes. 

Read more about Fulbright New Zealand here (See pages 16-19)