Honors Research at the Georgia Political Science Association
The Georgia Political Science Association conference is hosted annually in Savannah, making it the perfect place for Georgia Southern students to showcase their research, and four honors students recently took advantage of this opportunity. Charlotte McDonald, Maria Alejandra Amiel, Carolynn Nixon, Tony Hudson, and Auburn Bell each gave presentations to an audience consisting of both political science educators and students from around the world.
“The conference was incredible,” said Maria Alejandra Amiel (international studies & French ’17). “It’s an experience I believe more undergraduate students should get.”
Honors Program students at the GAPS.
Art and fashion have long interested Amiel, especially in how they relate to law, corporations, and human rights. Her presentation focused on the bridge between art and law, and the role that the fashion industry plays in corporate social responsibility. Mentored by Dr. Flynn, Amiel has analyzed the interaction of corporate social responsibility, international law, human rights, and activist groups.
Charlotte McDonald (international studies & German, ‘17) presented on a comparative case study she is conducting of European states. Under the mentorship of Dr. Maureen Stobb, she has been pursuing this study for some time. The presentation itself focused on human trafficking, which she reported is “the second largest international crime in the world,” as well as potential legal changes within the European Union to address the issue.
“I am very interested in how international law, specifically European Union treaties, can respond to this huge influx in human trafficking,” McDonald said.
She praises the conference for having given her the opportunity to network with possible future graduate schools, as well as being “a great opportunity to present my research to a broader audience of academics,” which she hopes will go on to aid her in future research and presentation.
“Helping Ourselves First: Conflict Management Strategies of Regional IOs,” presented by Carolynn Nixon (political science, ’17) discussed the effectiveness of differing international organizations, such as the European Union. Her research focused primarily on numerous international organizations which she has studied, and their reactions and decisions pertaining to specific conflicts.
“It was a great chance to meet people in the field and discuss my research,” Nixon said. “Getting to share your research in a professional atmosphere makes it feel so much more real.”
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