Eric Miller
Name: Eric Miller
Major(s): MA in Global Policy, concentration International Environmental Policy and MA in Resource Economics and Policy
Year in school: Graduated in December, 2020
Scholarship received: Fulbright Research Award, Laos
Year received: 2019
General Questions:
How did you first hear about this scholarship?
I first heard about this scholarship because my sister applied for it quite a few years ago. She applied to travel to Eastern Europe, and was an alternate for the scholarship, so I was introduced to Fulbright then. It wasn’t until later that I saw a flyer in Winslow Hall at UMaine for a meeting that the Office of Major Scholarships was hosting about upcoming scholarships, which included the Fulbright. I had sort of forgotten about the program, but as I thought about my degrees, I found myself thinking that this would be a great opportunity to take what I had learned in both my Masters programs and channel it into a research project.
Because I was on a non-thesis track within my Masters programs, I had the flexibility to interrupt my program and travel for this scholarship.
Do you remember where you were when you found out you had received the scholarship? If so, where? Tell us the story!
I remember exactly where I was. I was with one of my best friends in the SPIA program. We were in Fogler, in the University Club, having coffee. When we were leaving, I felt my phone buzz, and I had been checking my phone all day while I was waiting to find out about my application. I saw that the email said “Congratulations!” and I immediately knew that I had gotten it. I went out with a bunch of my friends, and it was a really special moment to be able to tell my professors and friends that I had gotten this scholarship. It was a really fantastic day.
Did you travel for/because of this scholarship? If so, where?
I was in Laos for seven months. There are about 150 different ethnicities in Laos, and there are many groups of people that speak a wide range of languages. When I was in Laos, I was on a trip and I happened to speak with an individual who spoke fluent Lao (the primary language in Laos), while I did not. We ended up having a conversation in both English and Lao, while also occasionally switching to French, because many individuals in Laos also speak French as a result of the colonial roots of the country. This was one of the most interesting interactions that I had while traveling.
I also really enjoyed the food in Laos. One of my favorite parts of traveling was knowing that I would be able to experience new foods and the cultural experiences surrounding the food. I feel like Lao food is a bit unappreciated in the U.S. and I was really glad to be able to be enthusiastic about the food while having this experience.
What was your favorite aspect of the scholarship experience? (Ex. travel, experiences, learning a new language, research opportunities, etc.)
It was really incredible to be able to go to the National University of Laos. I had a desk in their research office and I would show up a few times a week to work. My host really wanted me to speak English, because there aren’t many opportunities for individuals in Laos to chat with native English speakers, so I would go to the National University and meet with students and teachers. I could work from home because the research that I was doing allowed for that. The people I met and the friends that I made at the National University were some of my favorite aspects of the trip. I was able to attend a picnic on Teacher’s Day that was basically a big celebration, and I felt so welcomed in the country and in the community, it was wonderful. I was able to bring my girlfriend with me to Laos, and everyone welcomed us with open arms. We were very sad to leave, because we had to be evacuated during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. I was able to stay a bit longer than other Fulbright recipients because I was a researcher, but eventually we ended up leaving so as not to take away vital resources from those who needed them.
What did you learn during the application process?
I would say that the most memorable aspect of the application process was writing the personal statement and grant proposal. I put more effort into those three single-lined pages than I do into most things. Every single word had a purpose, there was no wasted space. It was quite the task to do that. I sent drafts to as many people as I could, I probably sent about eight drafts to Nives (in the Office of Major Scholarships), I sent drafts to my professors, basically to anyone that I thought could help me. It was a nice opportunity to really think deeply about writing and applying and how to best advocate for myself. It was a really nice opportunity to learn how to write about myself and “talk myself up”, more or less.
Tell us a bit about your research experience:
My project actually transformed quite a bit throughout the process. When I first started the application and decided to travel to Laos, my project looked very different than it did when I arrived and began working on the research. I’ve always been interested in transboundary governance of water resources, which basically means that I’m interested in looking at the relationship between political boundaries and the boundaries within watersheds.
There’s some very interesting policy and economic activity going on in watersheds, and one of the most fascinating places to look at this is the Mekong River. You have the upper Mekong River, which is largely in China, and the lower Mekong River, which is divided up between multiple Southeast Asian countries. I thought that I would research the governance, policy, and political interactions that take place concerning the management of these resources, as well as the economic drivers of hydropower and biodiversity.
Initially, I was connected to my host in Laos because I messaged a former Fulbright researcher on Linkedin, and she connected me with her host, who then ended up being my host. He (my host) did a lot of work with payments for environmental services, which is a market mechanism for conservation. One of the studies that he has conducted involves paying individuals to patrol protective wildlife areas for poachers and traps. If you pay these individuals more money than they would receive for the animals themselves, they are more inclined to work with you than to continue poaching. That was initially going to be the work that I did as well.
When I got there, my own interests led me to investigate something other than what I had originally proposed. I was provided with Census data that looked at the amount of fish that individuals in Laos are consuming. One of the big concerns in academic literature is disturbances to migratory fish, and how hydropower can disrupt the health of their populations. By looking at the diets of individuals in Laos, we hope to gain insight into the ecological conditions in these areas, as well as the changes in diet that result from decisions that are made about these watersheds.
How did you incorporate your personal skills/outside interests/other elements that were not the application’s focus into your application?
I learned as much as I could about Laos while I was applying, and talked to as many people as I could. What I learned from previous successful applicants was to exemplify my interests. I have a lot of outdoor experience, I have an interdisciplinary academic background, and I wanted to channel that into my personal statement. I tried to talk about being flexible and patient, and how being easy-going has taught me to “roll with the punches”. Being in a new place can lead to some frustrations, so being able to understand those challenges and move forward while solving my own problems is something that I emphasized in my essay. I’m an Eagle Scout, and I talked in my application about how that has taught me the skills that I need to advocate for myself while also adapting to new challenges. I also talked about being able to work through academic challenges and how that has helped me to grow.
Do you think that receiving this scholarship affects or will affect your future academic and/or career goals?
I think that this scholarship is one of my proudest achievements. I think that it will carry a lot of weight in my career goals. It gives me a special application status when applying for federal jobs, which is nice. I have an interview coming up in a few days with an environmental consulting firm that I’m very excited about. This organization has international reach, which is very exciting for me. I feel like receiving a Fulbright opened up doors not only to meet new people, but also having that stamp of approval, more or less, is invaluable. Having a Masters Degree and a Fulbright has opened up so many doors for me. I’m not sure where it can take me, but I’m very excited to find out.
What advice do you have for others who may be interested in applying for this scholarship?
I have two big things; don’t be afraid to talk to people, and don’t be afraid to just go for it. Professors, friends, people that you trust, talk to them and ask them questions. You won’t annoy them by talking about it and asking questions, and it will help you immensely. Don’t feel like you don’t deserve this award – apply! I didn’t have the best grades as an undergraduate student. I found myself in graduate school and was getting good grades, and I applied for the Fulbright and I got it. For anyone who is thinking about it, even if you don’t get it, the experience is worth it. You do a lot of soul-searching about what you want and what you’re trying to do with your degree, and it’s a really meaningful experience, regardless of whether you get it or not.