|
|
|
|
 |
 What do UC Berkeley’s Nicholas Bridgman, UC Santa Barbara’s Ellen Salud, and UC Santa Cruz’s Vijay Rakhra have in common? All three are among the growing number of students whose lives have been deeply enriched by research internships, fieldwork, and independent study research projects that they built into their Education Abroad Program experience. We all know that we learn differently when we do things. It’s one thing to learn in the classroom, quite another to take that learning and turn it into a valuable, hands-on experience—an experience that not only counts for UC academic credit, but also counts for life. Take Nicholas from UC Berkeley, for example. After successfully completing a year abroad studying ecology in England, he crowned his academic work at the University of Kent at Canterbury with a research trip to the Peruvian Amazon to undertake a study of the underwater vocalization of dolphins. If you are from UC Santa Barbara, you might know Ellen, a psychology major and an experienced diver, who attended EAP’s Barbados program at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, and took an active part—as an intern field researcher—in the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, whose mission is the conservation of endangered sea turtles. Or you might know Vijay, a film major at UC Santa Cruz who, combining his passions for music, dance, and film within the framework of an independent study research project, hit the road on EAP in Ghana, and created a film about traditional Ghanaian drumming at funerals and festivals. And the best part is they all got UC credit for their work! With some careful planning, the guidance and support of their professors and the gumption and grit to get out and do it, these three students accomplished more than they had ever imagined they could. EAP provides more choices than many students have ever considered, including the opportunity for students to devise the perfect internship or fieldwork program or the ultimate research project. Students are encouraged to dream and then match their dreams and academic aspirations. Details are available on the In the Field page on the EAP website. Students who don’t have a specific idea, but have a hunch they want to do something outside of the box are encouraged to consult with their Study Center Director after they arrive at their EAP site. Virtually all EAP programs include opportunities for independent research; many also include opportunities for internships, and quite a few comprise fieldwork. Choose the continent, and chances are, on EAP, you will be able to translate your dreams into reality, distinguishing yourself as you go! —Eva Diaz |