Perceived aesthetics of user-modifiable layouts: a comparison between an unspecified design and a GUI, a paper co-authored by Professors Brahma Dathan and Stefan Trausan-Matu will be presented during this year’s edition of RoCHI'2016 (International Conference on Human Computer Interaction) Iasi, Romania, 8-9 September 2016. The paper is based on the Fulbright work carried out by Dr. Brahma Dathan at Politehnica University of Bucharest together with his Romanian colleague (Metropolitan State University Saint Paul) during the last academic year.  See program of the conference: http://rochi2016.utcluj.ro/RoCHI_2016_Conference_Programme.pdf

Mariana Neţ, Fulbright Alumna and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Linguistics in Bucharest, has published a comparative study of transatlantic urban imaginaries, titled Once Upon Two Cities. A Parallel Between New York City and Bucharest by 1900. This book shows how New York City and Bucharest appealed to people’s senses and how this feeling was mediated by guidebooks, cookbooks, conduct manuals, postcards, films, and music. It explains what the two cities were considered to look like. It shows how men and women were taught to behave and what they must have eaten. It describes those few icons and “scores” which were supposed to appeal, first and foremost, to the middle class. It is a book about images: word images, fictional images, visual images, auditory images. It deals with (pre)conceptions, lifestyles and with two cities in search of their identities. In all these respects, by the year 1900, the world metropolis and the small European capital city could justifiably be compared.

Mariana Neţ was a visiting scholar at New York University in the academic year 2006-2007 and has lectured in many universities in Europe and the United States.

On Monday, July 25, the FEAC adviser and one enterprising intern had the opportunity to reach out to talented high schools students in Bucharest by delivering a presentation at the American Corner Bucharest. The English language summer camp brought together students from top secondary schools in the capital city for a week-long program, including a discussion on day one about undergraduate study opportunities in the United States. The conversation centered around school selection and the admission criteria, but included a number of activities designed to familiarize Romanian students with the key characteristics of the American system of higher learning as well as the wide range of course choices and American culture landmarks in connection to the school selection process. The students were invited to keep in touch with the FEAC-EducationUSA advisers at the local advising center for more workshops and educational counseling, in view of preparing prospective applicants for the admission process.

On July 5, 2016, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission hosted its Pre-departure Orientation Seminar devoted to the Romanian Fulbright grantees and independent students leaving for the U.S. to study or conduct research in the academic year 2016-2017.

The proceedings started with a series of welcome speeches by distinguished guest speakers representing the U.S. Embassy in Romania, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fulbright Board of Directors and the Romanian academia who gave their heartfelt remarks and congratulated the grantees.

The agenda was intense and comprehensive: Romanian and US Fulbright Alumni participated in several panel discussions, offering practical information to the current grantees preparing to start their U.S. Fulbright experience. We were also joined by a representative of the Consular Section of the US Embassy Bucharest who provided specific details and advice on J&F visas. Last, but not least, this year’s orientation session had a special significance since it brought together, in a special panel, recent and very recent alumni who shared personal impressions about their grant, as well as about their return to Romania and re-adjustment.