• Name

  • Stephanie Haas

  • Fellowship

  • Fulbright 2009-2010

  • Project Title

  • Norwegian Perspectives on Sustainable Development

  • Project Overview

  • From Fulbright Website

    "Stephanie Haas is enrolled in the Culture, Environment and Sustainability masters program at the University of Oslo's Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM). She plans to use her research there to inform a portrait photography project focusing on the concept of Sustainable Development. Interviews with a broad range of Norwegians will be published along with their portraits in 2010. The photographs and accompanying statements will examine the individual and national Norwegian perspectives on sustainability."

    Norway has a fascinatingly complex relationship with the concept of Sustainable Development. Gro Harlem Brundtland was the first female prime minister in Norway and she lead the World Commission on Environment and Development at the United Nations to define Sustainable Development. 99 percent of the electricity used in Norway comes from renewable hydroelectric power. While Norway is very progressive in many aspects of sustainability, Norwegians still have a larger ecological footprint than their Scandinavian neighbors because Norway is the third largest oil exporter in the world. Oslo has the highest cost of living in the world and their national economy is booming mostly thanks to the oil industry.

    My interviews project necessitated a high level of cultural involvement, as it involved contacting many different Norwegians asking them about their personal views and perspectives. I was involved with the International Student Union at the University of Oslo and wrote for their monthly publication. I also wrote a more serious monthly column for my home newspaper about my experiences in Norway. That was well-received quite and I believe it contributed to the Fulbright goal of cross-cultural understanding.

    In September, I commented in my journal "This has quite possibly been the most exciting month of my life." Indeed, my days since moving to Oslo have been filled with captivating coursework, traveling to masterpiece metropolises, meeting fascinating Norwegians, and exploring this paragon of Scandinavian cities, Oslo.

    In short, through fully funding my travel to, and living costs in, Norway, Fulbright made possible a year that without the grant's assistance would have been only a dream.

  • http://stephhaas.com/FulbrightProject.html

  • Advice on Applying for Fellowships

  • Don't be overwhelmed - just be organized and selective. There are a lot of opportunities out there, but you need to narrow down your choices. Think of what you have to offer the financing institution, what is particularly interesting to you and what topics you can show you have already specialized in. If you are applying for a Fulbright grant, think about the country you are applying to visit: do A LOT of background research and work to determine where in the world your specializations and skills could be best applied. As you know, it's important to take a lot of time and care crafting your essay(s) as part of the grant application. I got a lot of feedback from teachers, family and friends about my writing during this process. Also, if the grant you apply for requires you to submit a portfolio, it is very important to get feedback on this as well. Another tip is to always read all of the instructions for the grant application carefully and make sure you do everything exactly as they say.