Siblings achieve academic excellence
The Miller siblings, Jacob (left) and Amber, from Prairie du Chien, have gone above and beyond in their education. (Photo submitted)
By Addison Mumm
Siblings have a constant rivalry that never fades away. The Miller siblings, from Prairie du Chien, have reached a new level for “family competition.” Both Amber Miller-Adamany and Jacob Miller have gone above and beyond with their education. Jacob is now in Chile working on his dissertation and Amber is conducting important research for a better ecosystem.
Jacob graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 2003. He is now part of the Fulbright Scholar Program as a graduate student at the University of Arizona. The Fulbright Scholar Program sponsors Jacob’s education and helps pay for expenses.
The Fulbright Scholar Program partners with other countries to send scholars to different places around the world. Scholars for this program must have institutional support for their application from an official university in the country in which they will study. While visiting Chile for preliminary research, Jacob met a professor who was happy to sponsor his project as well as another professor in the states willing to work with him. Other parts of the application process include research plans, personal statement, interviews and, sometimes, a language exam.
Research may take up most of Jacob’s time, but he also teaches courses for the University of Arizona through the School of Geography and Development and sets time aside for his wife. The Fulbright program commissions for nine months.
“I have made substantial relationships in the community where I have been living and conducting research,” said Jacob.
Jacob directs interviews and observes the community members. His focus is on the everyday life and the consumption patterns and habits of the people in Chiloé Island, Chile.
“I am specifically trying to understand the complex feelings people here have about a controversial shopping mall that is being built in the historic center downtown, a development that has gained national and international attention in recent years,” he said.
Although Jacob hopes this research will continue on a long-term scale, short-term he will submit this research for his Ph.D. dissertation and hopefully have some published articles. Another long-term goal of Jacob’s is possibly publishing a book about his research and what he has discovered. Otherwise, Jacob plans to continue to teach and hopefully become a professor.
Jacob’s intention for this research is to better understand politics of urban retail development and its impact on the people, heritage and emotions. Like his sister, Amber, he is trying to make the world a better place.
Amber Miller-Adamany graduated from Prairie du Chien high school in 2005. Amber is focused on better understanding nature–specifically invasive species and native plant–and what troubles are out there.
Amber is also in graduate school, but at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. While Jacob is supported by the Fulbright program, Amber is receiving help from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. To apply, a personal statement and a research proposal had to be submitted. The honor and financial support of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship lasts for three years, according to Amber.
Her research focuses on ecological restoration with invasive plant species. She plans to remove the invasive plants and grow small sections of native trees in their places. Hopefully, these trees will create a natural shelter for other native plants. While 0n Goose Island, Amber will focus her time and energy on the reed canarygrass species.
“[Canarygrass] is extremely aggressive and out-competes native wetland species, including trees. It grows very quickly at my research site. The reed canarygrass grew taller than me in one month!” Amber explained.
When interning at Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Amber grew sour to the invasive plant species.
“We would go into the bluff lands to control various invasive plants such as honeysuckle and buckthorn, and I was just stunned at the impact invasive plants have on native ecosystems,” Amber said.
While Amber has her hands full with a husband and two sons, she still has high hopes for her research. Once her research is complete, Amber’s intention are uncertain. She may continue to do more research for one of the federal agencies that deals with invasive species, or she may teach; either way she is well on her way to a bigger, brighter future.
