David Borkenhagen, PhD student in Psychology

David conducted field research on New York City to understand how different architectural conditions, use cases, and historical narratives blend with one another to create emergent meaning and a sense of place. In New York City, he documented instances of these so-called “conceptual blends” in the urban landscape, with a specific focus on how the multifaceted history of Washington Square Park blends with present-day arguments about identity, culture, and politics to create emergent meaning. David accomplished his research through a blend of site visits and archival research at the Centre for Architecture and the Storefront for Art and Architecture. 

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Graduate Student International Experience award funds are available to University of Waterloo graduate students who participate in:

• an academic exchange
• a study term abroad related to research or an academic requirement
• work, or volunteer experience in another country.