University of San Diego
AC-5: Immersive Experience

1. Students in Environmental and Ocean Sciences have spent full semesters abroad at programs designed and implemented by the School for Field Studies. Recent examples include participation in the programs in Peru, Cambodia, and Tanzania. For all of these programs, the core issues included sustainable agricultural practices with particular emphasis on the role of women in the villages. Class and research projects centered on environmental aspects (water use, pollution, sustainable growing practices) as well as sociological/cultural issues like the role of women as leaders in the community and the need for more education of young women and all projects looked at the economic implications of the research. 2. Four students who participated in the integrated sustainability-themed cluster of courses in Environmental Science, Sociology, or Philosophy/Ethics, were chosen to do summer long research programs focused on water and drought impacts on the USD campus. Students came from many different majors and minors, creating a team with combined analytical power in environmental, social, ethical and economic perspectives. The "What's my 20?" water saving program proposed solutions for campus and at least two of the students continued the research in the Fall (2015) semester resulting in analysis of water waste from flushing sprinkler systems and the installation of rain barrels on campus.