Students in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering and across campus interested in the May intersession course Sustainability in the European Food System and study abroad trip are invited to an information session to learn more about the course.

Mary Savin, professor of microbial ecology in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, and Benjamin Runkle, associate professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, faculty leaders of the program, are hosting an open informational session from 5-6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in the Bell Engineering Center, room 2291.

The Sustainability in the European Food System May intersession trip with Ghent University in Belgium is May 13-June 3. Information is also available at the Hogs Abroad portal.

The three-week, three-credit-hour study abroad experience provides knowledge of agricultural and engineered food systems in the Eurozone, the experience of living in Belgium with excursions around the country, the experience of a cooperative and collaborative learning environment and waffles (cheese, chocolate, etc.).

This program explores specific issues in environmental sustainability from a European perspective. Students are exposed to GU scientists working collaboratively across agriculture, natural resource management, food production, manufacturing and alternative fuel resources. It includes lectures from leading European scientists, tours of relevant industries and marketplaces, and interactions with European students. It primarily takes place in Ghent, Belgium, in Western Europe, which is home to more than 77,000 students. The program provides a significant on-site learning experience not available on campus.

In the past, students from human nutrition and dietetics; food science; agricultural economics and agribusiness; crop, soil and environmental sciences; computer science; and chemical, mechanical, industrial and biological engineering have taken this course and found it fulfilling. Material in this course is accessible and relevant to these and many other disciplines.  

A list of Bumpers College study abroad programs is here.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.