Brilliant minds from a dozen countries around the world are now continuing their work at Brock.

The University recently held its We Welcome the World Reception, celebrating the arrival of international scholars who have chosen to come to St. Catharines to further their research in their respective fields.

The flags of their home nations — Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iran, South Korea, Turkey and the U.S. — decorated the walls on Pond Inlet on Tuesday, May 8, as the international guests were formally welcomed on campus.

Hosted by the Global Scholars Office, a department within Brock International Services, the event recognized and welcomed visiting international professors as well as scholars and participants of the University Mentorship (UM) program.

Members of Brock University’s senior administration were on hand, including President Gervan Fearon, who addressed the group of 40 guests, and James Mandigo, Vice-Provost for Enrolment Management and International.

“Internationalization plays a vital role in the Brock community, and hosting professors and scholars from around the world cultivates a campus culture that embodies both global diversity and interconnectivity,” Mandigo said.

No one was more excited for her stay than Rocio Belen Duran Guajardo, a PhD candidate from Chile studying Chemistry as part of the UM program.

“The University is beautiful and the people are so kind and respectful,” she said.

While earning her PhD, Guajardo must complete an internship in her field of study, making her time at Brock important to her future career aspirations.

She was drawn to Brock by the work of Associate Professor Travis Dudding, who is hosting her during her stay.

In the brief period that they have worked together, Dudding said that Guajardo has been “an absolute pleasure to work with.”

During her time at Brock, she will be using high-performance computing to design new types of hydrogen bond catalysts that are synthesizing in their team’s lab. As Dudding explains, the catalysts are showing a wide range of useful applications.

Representing all Faculties, the visiting scholars and professors will assist their hosts in a range of academic activities in the coming months, including teaching courses in their area of expertise and collaborating on research projects.

For more information on the Global Scholars Office, visit the Brock International Services website.