University of Minnesota, Duluth
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Several programs are offered that immerse students in global sustainability issues. One program that ties most directly is "Marine Biology in New Zealand": Students spend their May term studying marine biology in the small but beautiful coastal community of Leigh, New Zealand. Observe abundant marine life in the crystal clear waters of the protected coves in the Goat Island Marine Reserve. This reserve contains arguably the most productive and accessible temperate water reef in the world. On Goat Island, they view numerous bird species such as reef herons, fantails, and blue penguins and have easy access to sandy beaches, mangrove forests, rocky intertidal and mudflat ecosystems. Field trips to include Waitomo Caves Visitor Center, to take a black water rafting trip, undertake nocturnal kiwi hunts in the Tawharani Reserve, undergo the Roturao Cultural Experience and visit Tongariro National Park. The above-mentioned field or snorkeling trips are planned with laboratory follow-ups to further examine the marine life you observed during the day. We will spend time on the lab’s research vessel in Harukari gulf with an opportunity to spot and listen to whales! You’ll also get to observe the use of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) during portions of this program. Additional lectures will be given by marine biologists from Auckland University, New Zealand for you to learn more and get a glimpse of the teaching styles in New Zealand. This is sure to be one of the more memorable biology classes you enroll in during your college career. Details: https://umnduluth-ieo.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=35803 Another example is "Global Surf Culture." Costa Rica is a premier surf destination nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and this course will explore the history of modern surf culture. From nineteenth-century Hawai'i to twenty-first-century Central America, we'll take a deeper look at how this pastime has driven and been changed by a number of major global developments. As part of the program, you'll learn to surf! We'll spend two weeks in a number of coastal destinations (Nosara, Playa Avellanas, and Playa Grande). In addition to surfing, you'll visit a turtle reserve, learn about local sustainability efforts, and take a stand-up-paddleboard (SUP) river tour to a deserted black sand beach. Details: https://umnduluth-ieo.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=41378 Additional Study Abroad programs available http://www.d.umn.edu/study-abroad/

Short term and long-term study abroad programs at: https://umnduluth-ieo.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ListAll