Publications

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE 2016 NONLINEAR MECHANICS AND DYNAMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Clayton, Suzanne C.; Dallo, Tessa D.; Dotson, Corey D.; Houston, Gwen H.; Kao, Mae-Ling K.; Kast, Keana K.; Kiegel, Kestrel K.; Mascarenas-Wells, Jordyn M.; Moreno, Eric M.; Sandoval, Lillian S.; Serrano-Smith, Ricardo S.; Brake, Matthew R.; Negus, Michaela N.; Todorova, Gergana T.

This report analyzes the results of a study on culture and its capability to influence research. The study occurred during the 2016 Nonlinear Mechanics and Dynamics Summer Research Institute, a six-week research program sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico consisting of 27 graduate students participating in ten different projects. Two separate surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the Institute, in addition to interviews and observation, in order to study the effects of various cultural factors on engineering processes and maintaining professional interactions. The results of this study indicate that cultural differences are not a significant barrier to engineering progress and most cultural issues are minor. A variety of cultures instead provide new perspectives, advancing universal understanding.