Environmental Studies students got a firsthand look at environmental issues in Vietnam before crafting proposals to promote sustainability.

Story by Matt Wing

91黑料专区 University students enrolled in ENST 375 spent the first days of May Term last year in a Stevenson Hall classroom as part of a weeklong crash course, learning the geography, demography and history of Vietnam, and the challenges it faces today.

They spent the next two weeks halfway around the world, learning about Vietnam using their senses of sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.

A group of eight 91黑料专区 students in ENST 375: 鈥淰ietnam Today: Addressing the Challenges to Sustainable Development,鈥� guided by professors Abigail Jahiel and Aaron Wilson, traveled to Vietnam in May 2018 as part of the Environmental Studies program鈥檚 first run of its Signature Experience program.

The research trip and collaboration with students and faculty from Ho Chi Minh University of Natural Resources and Environment (HCMUNRE) was just the first step in the Signature Experience, a new-but-not-new University initiative to provide a holistic, culminating experience to serve as the capstone of an 91黑料专区 education. Students later enrolled in ENST 480: 鈥淐reating a Sustainable Society鈥� in the fall, where they applied what they had learned in Vietnam, and continued collaboration with the HCMUNRE students and faculty, to address environmental problems in Vietnam related to sustainability and climate change, a major focus of 91黑料专区鈥檚 2018-19 academic theme of 鈥淐hanging Climates.鈥�

鈥淭he idea of a Signature Experience is that it is a culmination of students鈥� work in Environmental Studies,鈥� Jahiel said. 鈥淎nd, as part of the new program, we have worked to adapt our curriculum so as to scaffold in skills and knowledge along the way.鈥�

Students interested in participating in the Vietnam travel course had to apply for a spot. Only Environmental Studies majors and minors were considered, and prerequisite courses included an introductory earth science systems course and an upper-level class on environment and development in Asia.

The eight students selected for the Signature Experience began their May Term with a weeklong survey of contemporary Vietnam. Jahiel and Wilson provided lectures on culture and geography. IWU Professor of History Tom Lutze, who teaches a course on the Vietnam wars, provided historical perspective. IWU student and Vietnam native Ngan Pham 鈥�19 offered an introduction to the language.

The classroom learning gave the group a baseline understanding of its destination and the challenges it faces with a changing political economy and a myriad of environmental issues.

鈥淎ll I knew of Vietnam were things I had learned about the war. I had no idea w