Western's Todd Donovan in Scotland for Referendum

Western Washington University Political Science Professor Todd Donovan is in Scotland observing the country’s political process in the run-up to the Sept. 18 referendum on Scottish Independence.

Donovan arrived in Scotland on Sept. 10. He has researched initiatives and referenda extensively and incorporated his findings into numerous publications and course materials for classes taught at Western.

“This is a one-of a kind opportunity to observe an independence referendum of historic proportions,” Donovan said Sept. 15 from Edinburgh.

Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, Western students will benefit from Donovan’s first-hand observation of this monumental event in world political history when he incorporates research conducted in Scotland into the courses he teaches in the Political Science Department.

Donovan's research focuses on elections and opinion in Washington state, the U.S.,and occasionally in Australia, Canada and Great Britain.