Applications are now being accepted for this course.
"The link between China’s booming economy and deteriorating environment makes it the perfect place for both science and economics students to learn firsthand what it really means to be a citizen of the world."
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to international education and seeks ways to create a better understanding between our countries, between our societies, between our people, and better understanding of the shared problems that we have. The purpose of this embedded international field course for the spring semester 2010 is to connect two worlds – China and the United States of America - by partnering the Penn State University with Nanjing University, Jiangnan University, and the Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Protection Department in order to promote global environmental stewardship.
This objective will consist of students carrying out on-line assignments over a two-month period that deal with both the environmental and economic realities of China (pre-trip), and a two and one-half week practicum to study and perform hands-on research along side academics, field scientists, governmental leaders, and more importantly, Chinese students at Nanjing University, Jiangnan University and established field sites in Jiangsu Province (trip practicum). Students will be guided by Chinese and American faculty through a program of field-based research activities that focus on present-day environmental issues (like eutrophication of China’s third largest fresh water body, Lake Tai, and the pollution of the Yangtze River due to industrial waste), round-table discussion sessions, and participant presentations. Additionally, possible solutions to China’s environmental issues like water and air pollution, loss of biodiversity, global climate change, over-harvesting of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, industrial waste, and watershed management, will be examined. As an indirect benefit students will also experience the biodiversity, biogeography, culture, politics, economics, and history of this region.
In her quest to explore and educate others about the biodiversity, biocomplexity, and need for preservation of our world biomes, Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin, Associate Professor of Biology at Penn State Lehigh Valley, will lead this field course expedition in which participants can earn undergraduate or graduate credits in either biology or business at the 297 or 497 levels. Joining her in the field will be Professor Michael Krajsa, Instructor of Business at Penn State Lehigh Valley, who brings expertise in short term study abroad experiential courses focusing on global social enterprise.
Note that submission of all "pre-trip" assignments must be completed before departure to China, "trip" field-based research assignments must be fulfilled while in China, and "post-trip" reflections/activities will be due following return to the United States. Grades are deferred until all of these essential assessment components are fulfilled.