Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

July-August 2005 • Vol. 31, No. 4

Summer abroad adventures begin in Scotland

Nineteen students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences are off on their summer study abroad adventures, coordinated through Global Studies Program (GSP), International Agricultural Programs Office. One student was Laura Sossamon, an agricultural business major, who recently completed a study tour to Scotland. She was particularly interested in the daily life of the Scottish farm she visited. 

"I was able to hear straight from the (Scottish) farmers' mouths about subsidies and their government reducing them and how government policies can affect farmers' problems," she said. "I want to try to understand agriculture on a global scale instead of just what I learned on the farm."

Sossamon along with environmental science student Ashley Rashe and food science student Cecilia Gonzalez completed in May the first Bumpers College Honors Study Tour to Scotland, where they attended programs on environmental and wildlife issues, animal science research, genetically modified crops, cloning and sustainable agriculture. In addition, they visited the Scottish Parliament, Scottish heritage centers, local farms and other cultural sites. The study tour was a component of the first Global Issues course for honors students taught by Preston La Ferney, university professor of agricultural economics/agribusiness and director of international agricultural programs for the UA Division of Agriculture.

“This was our first effort to combine a study tour with our honors students”, La Ferney said. “We hope this will be the first of many international study opportunities for students in our honors program."

In addition to the honors study tour to Scotland, Bumpers College students this summer will participate in study or internship programs in China, France, England, Italy and Scotland. GSP Program Director Raymond Barclay says this summer marks the largest number of students to participate in the program during one academic term.

“The summer is an ideal time for students to participate in international study and internships programs,” Barclay says. “The summer allows students more flexibility than fall or spring semesters, and programs are shorter, ranging from six to 10 weeks."

Carmen Albright, junior in agricultural business, will attend classes this summer at Southwest University for Nationalities in China, coordinated through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), which includes the UA and 30 U.S. universities. However, China is just the first stop. After a brief stay back home in Arkansas, Carmen will attend the fall semester at the University of Pau, France, then on to Africa to complete the spring semester at the University of Ghana.

Six apparel studies students will be attending study abroad or internship programs in France, England, Scotland or Italy. Annah Clemons and Ashley Donnel will complete internships in Pontlevoy, a small village surrounded by vineyards in the Loire Valley in France. They will live and work at The Abbey, an historic monument dating back to the 10th century.

Leslie Pennel and Lauren Kemp will participate in a variety of educational and internship opportunities in England and Scotland, coordinated by Robert Gillan, head of fashion, textiles and performance costume at the Edinburgh College of Art.  He says the apparel studies students will attend the Student Fashion Week in June, complete internships at Harvey Nichols, a high-end retail business known for its exclusive fashion merchandise in Edinburgh and return to London to attend the New Designers exhibition. 

“The New Designers is the best exhibition for new textiles and fashion talent,” Gillan said. “This trip will be combined with gallery and other exhibition visits in London.”

Lauren will then complete her summer experience with Belinda Robinson in Edinburgh, a designer of cashmere clothing, and Leslie will work on a retail visual merchandising project with Gillan at the Edinburgh College of Arts.

Apparel studies students Cara Ercolino and Jennifer Stabach are enrolled in two different study programs in Italy. Jennifer will attend the UA summer art program in Rome, and Cara will attend the Art Institute of Florence.

Rachel Riley also is in France to improve language skills and appreciation of French culture by participating in the 2005 summer program at the International College in Cannes. The UA junior is majoring in animal science with an emphasis in pre-medicine and equine science. Rachel said she might earn academic credit toward her minor in Global Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences.

Jason Cason, agricultural education and extension, will participate in a 10-week summer internship at Dimitris Perrotis College of Agricultural Studies in Thessaloniki, Greece. He will work on the College agricultural experiment station farm and participate in cultural visits around the country, including climbing Mt. Olympus.

Seven other students will participate in a variety of internships in Scotland. Leah Anders and Amy Moon, Family Studies and Child Development, will be working at Kidzcare, a child care organization with facilities at 15 sites in Edinburgh for mainstream children and those with special needs between the ages 5 and 12.

Prior to the placement, Kidzcare Director Fraser Quin says the students will participate in a week-long training program covering child protection, health and safety, risk assessment and moving and handling children with disabilities. He said both Leah and Amy will be part of the team.

“We encourage all our staff, whether experienced or not, to contribute to the running of the projects and speak out if something is not working,” Quin said. "The bottom line is that the children come first. So if something is not quite working as we would like it to, we need to fix it quickly."

Horticulture students Lauren McNair and Wendy Fleeman will be working at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) in Edinburgh and the Scottish Plant Hunters Garden in Pitlochry, respectively. Wendy also will have a brief assignment at the RBG in Edinburgh. UA horticulture students have participated in internships every summer since 2000 at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Pre-vet student Stacy Cornforth will work alongside Dr. Eddie Clutton, head of anesthesiology at the University of Edinburgh Royal Veterinary research center. Dr. Clutton said staff anesthesiologists also will help Stacy develop her knowledge of applied physiology and pharmacology and skills in clinical case management.

“In the course of the internship, Stacy will get an opportunity to become involved in a very practical way in the care of horses undergoing major surgery," Clutton said.

Food science student Brittany Adams and dietetics student Sarah Scudder both will be working with researchers in the Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences unit at Queen Margaret University College (QMUC), Edinburgh. Brittany will work alongside David Miskin, director and manager of QMUC Food Industry Foundation, and Sarah will be working with Michael Clapham, Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition.

“Sarah will be working on a community project to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables of children 3-5 years old and their families from disadvantaged areas of Edinburgh,” Clapham said.  “Sarah also will work with one of my Ph.D. students to evaluate the project in conjunction with Edinburgh Community Food Initiative, which run the program.”

When the students return to the UA for the fall semester, GSP program director Barclay says many will give class presentations on their experiences. Each student, he says, is asked to encourage other students to participate in future study abroad and internship programs.

“Student who complete study abroad programs are our best ambassadors for study abroad and internship programs,” Barclay says. “The success of our program lies with these students. They are the ones who will help encourage other students to strengthen their college education through international experiences."