Current NYU Shanghai Global Research Initiatives Fellows

Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (September 7 - November 15)：

Linked to Confucianism in the revolutionary upheavals of the first half of the 20th century and abandoned, roundly critiqued and further disestablished during the socialist period, filiality or xiaoxun, is now suffering a revival at the government’s initiative that is precarious and not uncontested. Professor Zito is collecting and analyzing various material cultural expressions of this revival, including images, texts, TV watching, and film. They represent the current aspects of a book project that will combine essays on filiality in the 18th century and these present-day revivals. Professor Zito will be collecting further instances of the popular propaganda (and discussions) on family values and filiality. She will also participate in the MODO Workshop at the Institute for Anthropology at ECNU, headed by Professor Huang Jianbo. 

Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (Sept 3 - Nov 30)：

As the business world grows smaller, cross-culture collaborations and negotiations have become a common topic over the years. Yet the area remains an under researched practice area. Chen’s research is an overview of the similarities and differences between American and Chinese collaboration strategies. Through last years GRI project, Chen realized the importance of effective communication in Chinese business world, especially for working professionals with limited Chinese work experience. Based on current literature and class materials, Chen would like to conduct empirical research in Shanghai to better identify the Chinese collaboration and negotiation practices. Due to the increasing amount of foreign influence, Chen would like to explore whether the tone, gestures, signals, and underlying assumptions about Chinese business interactions have become similar to the American norms and what differences persist that participants should remain respectful of.

Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (September 11 - October 9) :

Gender rights across cultures and countries, the role of women in societies. How is the “second new wave feminism” affecting nations that have different cultures and traditions? What is expected of them on the world stage as globalization pushes ideas beyond borders? How is feminism taking shape in China, a nation that is heavily protective of its culture and traditions? In what capacity does it allow for “feminism” to take root and shape the view of the younger generations growing up with social media platforms such as Weibo granting access to movements like MeToo and others? China has a lot of history that Bendu would like to use in advancing her research, furthermore, Jeong Min Kim, a teaching fellow at NYU Shanghai, is a gender historian whom she would very much like to have as thesis advisor. Bendu’s research will be greatly improved by spending time in Shanghai.

Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (January 6 - February 6)：

According to a recent Brookings Report, performance in kindergarten is predictive of third grade reading, high school graduation, and future earnings. Additionally, there is no doubt that technology has interjected itself into every piece of people’s lives-- especially young learners. So how can people further prepare children for education while keeping them interested as technology progresses at record rates? Introducing Augmented Reality (AR) Story Books — a complementary mobile app that will allow young children to further engage with their physical books. The first application prototype was developed as a proof of concept that made illustrated book characters come to life using Unity and C#. The research conducted through the Graduate Research Institute in Shanghai will be on the proven methods of learning technology that can be incorporated via AR and the preliminary-production of a new prototype that encompasses these features. Owen will be looking at the methodologies of researchers before her on learning and AR from various levels and documenting her research for future implementation into the next iteration for further testing upon return to Tandon.

Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (January 19 - February 13)：

The working title for Lowry’s thesis is “Higher Education as Investment in Development: Using Singapore as a Model for China.” She will research how Singapore’s higher education model has led to a highly developed society that has attracted increased foreign direct investment, as well as increased development for its citizens. Lowry will take an in-depth look at China’s approach to higher education model, and where it has been flawed at attracting the investment needed for long term, equitable economic growth. She will engage the higher education community at NYU Shanghai and at East China Normal University through interviews and intense research on China’s economic “miracle” to understand how it can implement better policies in higher education to attract long-term investment.