ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico's Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Global Education Office (GEO) have announced the recipients of the 2024 Globally Engaged Research awards. This year, Professor Subhankar Banerjee, biology major Ian Hutchinson, and anthropology major Ruizhe Liu have been recognized for their contributions.

UNM is home to over 1,300 international students from 96 countries, who contribute significantly to its research efforts through diverse perspectives and collaborations. The award highlights internationally focused research that broadens investigative approaches and incorporates global diversity into UNM's research enterprise. It also underscores a commitment to fostering international partnerships in both research and education to address global challenges.

Professor Subhankar Banerjee from the Department of Art is honored as the faculty awardee. As the founding director of the UNM Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities, he uses visual culture to highlight issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change impacts. His work includes international fieldwork with local communities and scientists, particularly concerning shorebird conservation in Canada and New Zealand, as well as tiger conservation in India.

Ruizhe Liu, a graduate student in anthropology, has conducted extensive fieldwork in China to explore globalization's effects on families and communities. Her work aims to create new academic opportunities for anthropology within China by building strong relationships with local scholars.

Ian Hutchinson receives the Deborah Rifenbary Memorial Undergraduate award for his research on fossil preservation in Paraguay. Collaborating with UNM Associate Professor Jason Moore, Hutchinson has worked alongside Paraguayan scholars and facilitated reciprocal visits to US Southwest research sites.