Communication: A vital key to the success of interdisciplinary programs

POLY 450

Alicyn M. Rhoades, alicyn.haney@usm.edu and Micah S. Black, micah.black@usm.edu. School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, #10076, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
The integrative graduate education and research traineeship (IGERT) program between The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and The University of Mississippi (UM) is designed to address Entrepreneurship at the Interface of Medicinal and Polymer Sciences (EMPS). In some facets of the program, communication was accomplished very well; in others it was found to be lacking. All areas of communication are candidly analyzed and discussed. These include communication within teams of graduate students, with professors, and across disciplines. Particular detail in the time to implement certain communication techniques is also discussed. Students who participated in Cadre I of the program were interviewed regarding communication within the IGERT program. Three separate interactions were investigated: communication within IGERT graduate student teams, communication of those teams with professors, and polymer and medicinal chemistry students learning the technical language of each other's discipline, in order to successfully develop projects at the face of these disciplines.
 

Entrepreneurship in Polymers and Technology
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006