Through Biodiversity and Multiplicative Principles Turkish Students Transform the Culture of STEM Education

Abstract

In this article the principle investigators of the various projects that comprise Aggie STEM at Texas A&M University discuss the impact and cross pollination of having graduate students from Turkey working and conducting their research as part of the multi-college Aggie STEM project.  Turkish students have been engaged in instrumental roles since the inception of Aggie STEM and its growth as a tightly intertwined multi-national and ubiquitous STEM entity. The influence of Turkish students has spanned the entire gamut, from app development, which preceded the trend at the beginning of the new millennium, to innovative curricula and pedagogies that became enculturated into everyday life.  Perhaps the greatest contribution offered by the scholars is that, as students, they engaged broadly in research, published prolifically and continue in these activities as they assumed the mantle of leadership as tenure track professors, administrators, policy makers, and program officers in the U.S. and throughout the world.