By P. Salomé Valdivieso Santillán, Graduate student at the UT Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
Our research project began with the aim of studying how different birthright nationality laws shape migrant integration in four diverse settings: Panama, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. These countries differ not only in terms of language, policies, and economies, but also in the levels of inclusion towards migrants, which significantly impact how we conceptualize the south-north divide. The United States, for instance, grants citizenship to anyone born on its soil, while Colombia and the Dominican Republic impose stricter conditions that can leave children of migrants in legal limbo. Panama is a rare case, given the antecedents of the “Crisol de Razas” (melting pot) policies, where a melting pot ideology, similar to that of the United States, has been established as one of the primary identity markers of the country.
Continue reading Mapping Sense of Belonging and Birthright Citizenship Laws: My Experience Researching Migration and Nationality in the Americas →
By Mitchel McCormick, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
The Embedded Scholars’ experience in Panama City, Panama, proved to be both challenging and rewarding. Challenging because being an intern after working full-time for six years is a significant adjustment. Doing all of this in a second language abroad makes it even more compelling. Rewarding because of the quality of the work I had the opportunity to witness, the skills of the CID Gallup staff, and the opportunity to work with a creative and sharp team both at CID Gallup and UT. At CID Gallup, I held several different roles, some uniquely tailored to the company and others involving collaboration with UT students on a research study related to the experience of migrants across Latin America.
Continue reading The Democratic Benefits of Public Opinion Research in Colombia and Panama →
By Siyona Nayampally, Undergraduate student in the UT Economics Department and Plan II Program
The weeks leading up to my flight to Panama’s Tocumen Airport, I was filled with excitement and nerves. My travels in Latin America had been limited to short trips in Mexico and Costa Rica, and I wasn’t sure what to expect for life in Panama. What I have encountered during my time here has been so much more than I could have imagined. The culture was so welcoming and kind and within a couple of days, I felt right at home. Riding alongside locals to work on the metro every day, I got to see a different side to this new city than I was used to from my travels. We immersed ourselves in the working Panamanian experience, eating lunch at the fonda almost daily, and spending time with our coworkers on the weekends.
Continue reading From Canvassing to Designing My Own Climate Migration Survey →
By Douglas Ramirez, Undergraduate student in the UT Molecular Biosciences Department
“…So like, why are you going to Panama?” A question I was pelted with from all sides in the days leading up to my departure. This question filled my head as I walked into the CID Gallup office on the first day. Admittedly, I felt like an outsider going in. As the only member of the cohort in STEM, at times I felt out of my depth for the program. Democratic development and social conditions have been something that I’ve been interested in but admittedly I didn’t have much formal education on these before the program. I’ve learned through my personal research and have conducted field surveys, but frankly that just can’t compare to full courses. Regardless of any doubts, I decided to go full steam ahead.
Continue reading Understanding People and Patterns in Panama →
By: Olivia Drew, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department
When I arrived in Panama, I had no idea what I would find or how I would fit into the office there. Nevertheless on May 29, I was there and was slowly learning my place in the city. When I got to the CID Gallup office, I learned more about their work and the reasons why it matters. CID Gallup is a surveying company that collaborates with both the public and private sectors to collect public opinion data about a variety of topics. The work being done at CID Gallup is crucial to understanding the concerns and needs of people in Latin America.
Continue reading Conducting Public Opinion Research across Panama →
A research exchange program at the University of Texas at Austin supporting student work abroad in democratic and constitutional development