Fulbright Fellowship: Scholar Programme
Awardee: Dr Marie Moran, Asst. Prof. (Equality Studies, Social Justice) , UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and director of the UCD Equality Studies Centre
Dates: (Mar. to Jun. 2022)
Funding Organisation/Programme: Fulbright Scholar Programme
Introduction
From March to June 2022, Dr Marie Moran undertook a three month Fulbright scholarship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This fellowship builds on her experience of cultural exchange, having already participated in an ERASMUS+ cultural exchange funding on two previous occasions, to build research and teaching networks with the Universities of Granada (Spain) and Liverpool (UK) respectively.
What is a Fulbright Scholarship?
Awarded to existing academics in Irish universities who: demonstrate academic and personal excellence, a strong rationale for going to the U.S., a robust programme of study or research, strong leadership skills or potential, and an understanding and commitment to the ethos of being a Fulbrighter. What does the Fulbright Scholarship involve? The Fulbright Scholarship requires the awardee to go to a university in the United States to undertake professional research or lecturing.
In this case Dr Marie Moran undertook a three month visit to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to undertake professional research in the field of equality studies. Marie was one of 11 Irish-based academics selected for this fellowship in 2021.
Why Madison-Wisconsin was selected as the location for the Fulbright fellowship?
Madison is a very progressive city with live student and citizen activism over key contemporary inequality issues, University of Wisconsin is a ‘flagship public Ivy’ university. The departments of Philosophy and Sociology where Marie has been based are internationally renowned. Academics associated with the Havens-Wright Centre, include the eponymous Erik Olin Wright (who was hosted at the Equality Studies Centre in 2010 when he was writing his Real Utopias book), Joel Rogers and Mustafa Emirbayer, as well as an illustrious range of internationally renowned visiting scholars.
What research activities was Marie involved in during her Fulbright Fellowship?
The scholarship was awarded to Dr Marie Moran to allow her to carry out research on social movement responses to inequality in an American context for her forthcoming book, ‘Inequality in the 21st Century’ (Polity); to work on the book’s theoretical framework under the mentorship of internationally renowned Professor Harry Brighouse of the Philosophy Department; and to build connections between the world-renowned Havens-Wright Centre for Social Justice the UCD Equality Studies Centre of which she is director.
Summary of Research Outcomes and Professional development
- Further development of an interdisciplinary equality framework;
- Enhanced understanding of how to achieve greater equality in practical terms;
- Specialist archival and political research on elite power for forthcoming monograph;
- Advancement of best practice in teaching Egalitarian Theory;
- Networking for future research collaborations with world renowned faculty from the Havens Wright Centre for Social Justice.
- Appointment by director of Havens Wright Centre for Social Justice to international advisory board of the UCD Equality Studies Centre.
- Invitation to return as a Havens Wright Centre for Social Justice visiting scholar in 2022-23.
A special feature of the Fulbright programme is that it is not simply concerned with academic excellence, but also with fostering harmonious international relations through a programme of intercultural exchange.
How does the Fulbright programme foster harmonious relations?
Awardees are expected to demonstrate the willingness to participate in a global exchange of ideas, commitment to a transformative and empowering model of education, and a passion for increasing mutual understanding among nations and cultures. According to Marie: ' immersing myself in Madison life was one of the most enriching parts of the programme, and one that was facilitated by the support systems of the Fulbright programme (including Fulbright officers in the region who organised networking and social events, and the online Fulbrighter networking portal) as well as the incredibly welcoming and inclusive environment in which I found myself. “
For further information please contact Dr Marie Moran. Email: (opens in a new window)Marie.Moran@ucd.ie
See the Fulbright website for information on Dr Marie Moran's fellowship: (opens in a new window)https://www.fulbright.ie/custom_alumni/dr-marie-moranmoran/