"DO IT!"

A Graduating Senior Reflects on her Undergraduate Research Experience at UCSB . . . and Brazil

by Alexis Sclamberg

My research experience at UCSB began my freshman year, when I conducted an independent study on fair trade coffee. This study was a follow-up to research I had conducted in an honors section of Professor Rich Appelbaum's Global 2 class. I loved the experience of doing independent study so much that I continued to sign up for independent study courses throughout the next three years - I did independent study projects with Professors Eileen Boris, Jonathan Inda, and Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval. These classes allowed me to engage in topics that were introduced to me in classes and were of particular interest to me. My research experience culminated with my thesis senior year, when I traveled to Brazil to attend the World Social Forum and thereby gained the opportunity to conduct field research rather than just the book research I had done in the past.

I met my research mentor, Women's Studies Professor Eileen Boris, the first quarter of my freshman year, when I enrolled in her honors section for Women's Studies 10. Professor Boris inspired me to declare a women's studies major to complement my global studies major, and I subsequently took another one of her classes and also asked her to act as my advisor for an independent study course. Then she approached me during my junior year about doing a senior project, and she told me she would love to work together! So we did!

I was interested in researching transnational activist networks, and my goal was to use the World Social Forum as a platform for my study. Although I was initially interested in evaluating the ways in which activists from different global positions work together to effect positive change in the world, my experience at the World Social Forum transformed my research project, because I was unable to find enough instances of true transnational activist networking there to substantiate a project.

I ultimately chose to address the ways in which the World Social Forum fell short of providing the strategic structures necessary for creating transnational activist networks, and I explored the various reasons why this was so. In addition, I provided a feminist critique of the forum, which in my view failed to insert a "feminist agenda" or "women's voice" into the forum's mainstream sessions. I also developed a series of suggestions for building mechanisms to create effective transnational activist linkages in the future.

I chose this research topic because I had spent three years in my global studies and women's studies classes learning about how our economic system was increasing poverty, destroying our environment, and degrading local cultures, and I wanted to evaluate what people are doing about all of this. I chose to use the World Social Forum as my platform for study because I had heard it was was "the place" where activists from around the world gathered to make positive global change.

I spent a week at the Forum, interviewing activists from about their work and their involvement in transnational activist networks. While I conducted my research, I was also able to network with people from all over the world, including members of the UN, who may provide great contacts for me in terms of future employment or internship opportunities.

My work culminated in two events at the end of my senior year: the Undergraduate Research Colloquium, an event allowing students doing undergraduate research to share their work with interested students and faculty, and the Women's Studies colloquium presentation, which is required of all students completing an honors thesis in the Women's Studies Department.

Writing a senior thesis was an incredible experience. By working closely with a professor and presenting in both the Undergraduate Research Colloquium and the Women's Studies Colloquium, I received validation of my scholarship and hard work both from the university and from my department. In addition, completing an honors thesis project made me feel very much engaged in the university, as I felt a part of a community of dedicated students, was honored in my department, and was given the chance to become close to faculty members.

Doing undergraduate research at UCSB was transformative. I was able to travel to another country and engage myself in one of the world's most significant international activist events, become close to professors, receive enormous validation and recognition for my work, and create friendships with others in my department who also completed a thesis.

If you asked for my advice about whether to participate in undergraduate research at UCSB, my answer would be an enthusiastic "Do it!"

Alexis Sclamberg graduated in June 2005. She received bachelor of arts degrees with highest honors in global studies and women's studies. Alexis was also awarded honors in women's studies and dean's honors, as well as the City Club Prize, which is given to women students in the social sciences whose record demonstrates both academic excellence and community service.
The work described in this article was funded by a research grant from the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities program (URCA) as well as a generous donation from the McCune Foundation. Although URCA does not fund international travel, Alexis was able to use URCA funds for other aspects of her research project.

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