Colorado College seniors Alex Suber and Meredith Bird were recently chosen for the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. The Fellowship provides graduating seniors with a grant that allows them to pursue a year of independent study outside of the United States.
“It is about individuals investigating standing passions and having the opportunity to have interdisciplinary exploration,” said Suber about the Fellowship. “It provides a structure for recently graduated liberal arts students to continue study in a specific area and to take it in new directions.”
“I view it as an incredible opportunity to explore what I think I want to pursue in the future,” said Bird. “It is a great way to figure out my priorities and values before I take next steps. I anticipate it will be the most wonderful and difficult experience of my life.”
Suber’s project, “The Global Empathy Machine: Exploring Global Cinema’s Transformative Potential,” investigates the role and function of fictional cinema across cultures and the global impacts of media’s international distribution. The project will take Suber to China, South Korea, Japan, Egypt, and Nigeria.
“I hope to gain a further understanding of the potential of this dominant form of storytelling and how it affects and influences minds across cultures,” said Suber.
Suber plans to explore the physical places that consume cinematic fiction like movie theaters and movie stores as well as speak to moviegoers and directors.
He said that he is most excited about meeting people across the world and discovering why film is so transfixing globally.
The Watson Fellowship emphasizes the process over the final result. Therefore, Suber plans on blogging frequently, taking a lot of street photography, and taking some short videos to share online.
Bird also plans on having a blog as well as journaling frequently. At the end of the year, she anticipates consolidating all of her findings.
Bird’s project, “Hungering to Feed,” explores food inequality and hunger issues in various countries. The project will take her to Spain, India, Uganda, and Mongolia.
“I will focus on who is doing what and what is working,” said Bird. “I will meet the people who are most effected by hunger issues and put a face to the statistics.”
Bird has been passionate about food inequality since she was very young. “My family had a garden in our backyard,” she said. “It was a source of happiness and joy in our community. I realized that not everyone has that. I co-founded the Colorado Springs Food Rescue, which opened my eyes to the food issues in Colorado Springs and inspired me to explore food inequality beyond.”
During her Watson Fellowship, Bird plans on shadowing various people involved in food inequality. “In each country I have various contacts at different organizations, from a slum aid worker to someone who works at the United Nations to someone who works at a soup kitchen,” she said.
Through these contacts, Bird believes she will gain a better understanding of what is occurring surrounding food in these various countries.
“I am nervous,” said Suber in anticipation of the upcoming year. “I do not know what is exactly going to happen this whole year, and that’s exciting but also nerve-wracking.” Bird’s feelings were similar: “I am so excited and a little terrified and anxious to start. I feel ready to [go].”
Bird and Suber are best friends and have been talking about this opportunity since their freshmen year. “It is really special to be able to share this experience with him,” said Bird.