Civil Engineering Professor, UA Engineering Students Test Science Diplomacy Skills

In September, Hassan Vafai, research professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, organized a trip to Washington to give three students a chance to put their negotiation skills to the test at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Engineering students Leah Kaplan, Andisheh Ranjbari and Stephanie Zawada were among 32 participants -- including students, postdoctoral researchers and professionals from more than 16 countries -- selected by the AAAS to explore science diplomacy with foreign ambassadors, NASA researchers and international journalists.

Vafai, who was also invited to be a guest speaker at AAAS workshop, joined Kaplan, Ranjbari and Zawada in making a presentation about the February 2017 UA Science and Diplomacy Conference sponsored by the UA Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and Office of Global Initiatives.