Ema Odra Raščan is a PhD candidate of American Studies at the University of Ljubljana. Prior to this, she completed her Master at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien, where she delved into security studies with a thesis on comparative maritime security strategies of the EU and the US. Her research aptitude is evident in her publications, where she has tackled topics ranging from geopolitics to European affairs. Beyond academia, Ema Odra has gained extensive work experience in diplomacy, from her role as an Assistant at the Consular Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Austria to internships at the Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the EU and the European Parliament. Ema Odra’s dedication to academia and diplomacy is matched by her diverse interests outside of work, including improvisation theatre, traveling, and contributing to her community. As part of the ASEF Research Abroad fellowship program, she will be joining Professor Alenka Poplin at Iowa State University, where she will deepen her understanding of rational ignorance in spatial participatory planning and the role of public participatory geographic information systems in this process.