Seattle University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

1. Education Abroad: SU’s Education Abroad offers several programs with immersive and sustainability-focused education components. Here is a list of recent offerings:

• Social and Environmental Change in Oceania: https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/social-and-environmental-change-in-oceania.html
• Biodiversity & Natural Resource Management, Madagascar
https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/biodiversity--natural-resource-management.html
• Tropical ecology, tropical marine biology, conservation biology, environmental policy at USAC in San Ramon, Costa Rica:
This program offers courses on sustainability with field experience.
https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/usac-in-san-ramon.html
• International Development in Ecuador:
This is an experiential program with a sustainability track where students can join an internship/research in sustainability in Ecuador
https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/international-development-in-ecuador.html
• International Development in Senegal:
This is an experiential program with a sustainability track where students can join an internship/research in sustainability in Senegal
https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/international-development-in-senegal.html
• Business, Environmental Studies, and Sciences in The Himalayas:
This has unique courses in sustainability in Bhutan, with field experience in the courses.
https://www.seattleu.edu/abroad/students/explore/programs/items/business-environmental-studies-and-sciences-in-the-himalayas.html


2. UCOR 3800 Science of Sustainability: Getting to the Root of Sustainability: The Science Behind Sustainable Agriculture (Dr. Brenda Bourns)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
UCOR 3800 is 10-week Core Natural Sciences and Global Challenges course that examines the science behind sustainable agriculture from two perspectives: the more cerebral understanding facilitated by traditional classroom meetings and the more visceral understanding afforded by reaching out beyond the classroom to physically experience the same topics. It is intended primarily for non-science majors. It consists of 2 meetings per week, a shorter class discussion to lay the conceptual groundwork for the course (Th 10:15-12:20 Admin 308) and a timeslot (T 10:15-12:20) to accommodate the “experiential” side of the course – service learning at the Yesler Terrace Community Farm, a local non-profit farm that grows food for the Black Farmer’s Co-operative. An important objective of this course is to deepen our understanding of environmental sustainability by reaching out beyond the classroom to involve ourselves more viscerally in some of the issues related to sustainability that affect our day to day lives. The vehicle for this will be the opportunity to volunteer on a service learning project.


3. BIOL 4640 Aquatic Ecology (Summer 2023) - BLAKELY ISLAND FIELD STATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We will work together as a research team to understand the fascinating patterns in aquatic ecosystems. For 2 weeks, we will explore interactions among aquatic organisms and their physical environment. We will study the abundance and distribution of populations; interactions among organisms in communities; and the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients through these ecosystems. Our class will primarily be devoted to field labs where we will visit sites for class research that will develop into your own projects. Through team projects, you will hone your research skills, from generating hypotheses to proposing and carrying out research to analyzing and summarizing results. Team projects will result in research reports, while your independent research will culminate in a research paper and presenting your findings at a symposium. Mornings will begin with a meeting to discuss ecological ideas we will explore in our research, and evenings we will get together for paper club to discuss recent research to inspire ideas, reflect on our field work, and address relevant current issues.


4. Sustainable Design, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (July 2023)
This was a 10-day SU education abroad program, with support from CEJS, the College of Science and Engineering, and the Office of Global Engagement.
Four students had an opportunity to participate in a summer program in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The program was a partnership with EMGE (a Jesuit engineering school), and ran from June 30th to July 10th, 2023. Students from all academic backgrounds were invited to participate.
In this program, students learned about sustainable design through a Brazilian lens by touring facilities and hearing from sustainability professionals. Students also built a pilot-scale, hydroponic farm with a team of students at EMGE’s Campus 3.