Seventeen Utah State University students, including four participants from the USU Eastern campus, recently traveled to Iceland for an immersive study abroad program focused on wildlife ecology, renewable energy, agriculture, and sustainability. The program utilized Iceland's unique environmental settings as a living classroom to examine how communities balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Program Overview and Objectives
The expedition, led in part by faculty member Dr. Sunshine Brosi, allowed students to observe ecosystem processes and policy outcomes through direct field-based learning. According to a May 27 announcement from Utah State University, the group traveled across various Icelandic landscapes, including glacial, volcanic, coastal, and agricultural regions.
Exploring Environmental and Human Systems
As noted in a recent social media post from USU Eastern, the program enabled students to explore geothermal landscapes and wildlife to better understand the interaction between environmental and human systems. The curriculum was designed to show how these global systems relate to similar ecological challenges faced in rural Utah.
Hands-on Research and Local Engagement
The hands-on research included observing Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, seals, and other marine mammals. Students also studied the connectivity of natural systems across continents and met with local Icelandic farmers to learn how agricultural operations adapt to challenging growing conditions and limited natural resources.
Emotional Impact of Climate Change
For some participants, the physical evidence of environmental change provided a profound emotional impact. Dr. Brosi reported that students witnessed melting glaciers, noting that the visibility of the receding ice caused many students to cry because it made the abstract concept of climate change feel real.
Student Demographics and Diversity
The program's demographic makeup included a diverse group of learners, including honors students and an Aggies Elevated student. The university reported that nearly 30% of the participants were Statewide students, while 18% were identified as post-traditional students.
Economic accessibility was a significant factor for the cohort, with approximately 70% of the participants being Pell Grant eligible. Utah State University noted that the use of financial aid, grants, and scholarships was instrumental in making the international travel feasible for many of the students involved.
Beyond the academic focus on geothermal energy facilities and coastal ecosystems, Dr. Brosi emphasized that the program aims to build personal confidence, independence, and a broader global worldview in her students. She expressed hope that the participants would return to Price with a deeper understanding of sustainability as a lived reality shaped by real economies and landscapes.
Dr. Brosi also used the opportunity to encourage future students not to let perceived costs prevent them from seeking international opportunities. She stated that there are real pathways to make study abroad achievable and that the academic and personal return on such an investment is significant.
The experience serves as a template for how USU Eastern students can apply lessons learned from international environmental management to help shape sustainable solutions for their home communities in Utah.
