Clarksville, TN – For Jair Martinez, a senior engineering physics major at Austin Peay State University (APSU), the opportunity to conduct research abroad was as much about the cultural experience as it was about scientific discovery.
Martinez, as part of the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, spent his summer in Rennes, France, synthesizing specific types of glass and studying their properties. But in between lab sessions and data analysis, he found himself immersed in a world of culinary delights, fashion trends and cultural nuances that broadened his perspectives far beyond the realm of physics.
“I was just excited to eat their food,” Martinez said with a grin. “The desserts were the best parts of France.”…