| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.58 |
| Liaison | Derek Nichols |
| Submission Date | Dec. 14, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University at Buffalo
AC-5: Immersive Experience
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Derek
Nichols Sustainability Engagement Coordinator UB Sustainability |
Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution, including how each program addresses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability:
In January 2018, sixteen students from diverse academic programs spent two weeks in Costa Rica looking at the sustainability issues that country faces. Sustainability in Latin America: A Case Study in Costa Rica was designed to expose students to sustainability issues that are underappreciated or not relevant in the US, including eco-tourism, monoculture, renewable energy, and societal issues. This study abroad was spearheaded by assistant professor John Atkinson from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with advocates from the Office of International Education, the Experiential Learning Network, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Students were tasked with considering the full life-cycle impacts of each component of the trip. Daily group reflections and personal journals provided wider context of the experiences. Students engaged with real-world examples and leaders in the field of sustainability through regionally specific tours, lectures from indigenous community leaders, agriculture representatives and government officials, class discussions, outdoor activities, assignments, and reflections intended to highlight sustainability in practice. The course is scheduled again for January 2019.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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