By Allie Rossman
CALS Communications Service
New study abroad opportunities will be offered this spring and summer by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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| Students visit a farm where buffalo are milked for mozzarella cheese. |
The Agricultural Production, Business and Trade course travels to Spain during spring break. The purpose of the program is to increase understanding of agricultural production worldwide and compare other countries’ agriculture with the United States. This program rotates each year between Spain, Argentina and Australia. Students will visit Spanish farms and businesses and meet faculty and students from other countries. Program directors are Sergio Lence, Ebby Luvaga and Tom Loynachan from the departments of agronomy and economics.
The Service Learning Program in Uganda over spring break encourages undergraduates to complete service projects that support the primary schools in the rural Kamuli District. The program focuses on agroforestry and improving food security and quality of life for families. Students will establish a tree nursery and woodlot that will help combat erosion and be used as live fencing. Along with service projects, students will visit the source of the Nile River and Murchison Falls National Park, a conservation area to the untamed wilderness and animals such as buffalos, elephants, lions and rhinoceroses. Natural resource ecology and management department program directors are Richard Schultz and Julie Blanchong.
Other spring break programs include travel to Scotland, Honduras, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Panama and Costa Rica.
Eleven travel courses are scheduled for this summer. The newest is the Production and Processing Sustainable, Safe and Nutritional Food Program of France. The program will introduce students to different perspectives on food production, diets and the role of food in French culture. Students also will explore the city of Paris and visit many attractions. The program director is Kurt Rosentrater, agricultural and biosystems engineering and food science and human nutrition departments.
The Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Experience in Belize engages undergraduates in both the biological and cultural experiences in that country. Students also participate in tours, hiking trips and exploring for marine life. John Nason and Mary Harris are program directors from the departments of biology and natural resource ecology and management.
“Studying abroad is a good professional preparation experience. It builds confidence while going outside your comfort zone in a different country,” said Shelley Taylor, assistant director of Global Agriculture Programs.
This past year, 420 CALS students participated in travel courses to 20 different counties. Besides an extensive list of travel courses, the college’s study abroad office offers exchanges with eight universities and five internship programs.
With the travel course to Antarctica this fall, CALS students have the opportunity to travel to all seven continents this year.
You can find more information about application deadlines and informational meetings at www.agstudyabroad.iastate.edu or visiting 0018 Curtiss Hall.