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The School for Field Studies (SFS) Italy - Sustaining Traditions: Food, Farming, and Climate (Semester) (Outgoing Program)

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  • Locations: Greve, Italy
  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: The School for Field Studies (SFS) 
  • Restrictions: Lehigh applicants only
Program Description:

SFS ITALY: SUSTAINING TRADITIONS: FOOD, FARMING, AND CLIMATE(SEMESTER)

Italy countryside

PROGRAM DETAILS

  • Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Credits: 18 semester-hour credits
  • Prerequisites: One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science, 2.7 GPA, 18 years of age
  • Application Deadline: Fall: May 15. Spring: November 15. Early applications encouraged
  • Financial Aid: All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans
 

OVERVIEW

In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, explore sustainable and traditional food systems offered as alternatives to industrial food production. Explore the diverse topography of central Italy and its distinct ecosystems that have, over thousands of years, shaped unique food traditions and production practices. Hike through sunbaked Tuscan hillsides, saltwater marshes, and wolf-inhabited forests while learning from olive growers, viticulturists, fishers, and shepherds about the complex interdisciplinary issues of traditional and present-day Italian agriculture.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Visit the coastal area of Maremma to tour a sustainable artisanal fishery and local farms, coming face to face with endangered heritage breeds of livestock
  • Research creative farmer-driven responses to climate pressures on their olive groves and vineyards
  • Discuss with livestock shepherds how the Foreste Casentinesi National Park balances wolf conservation with predation pressure on their herds
  • Embark on a weeklong excursion to Sicily to experience the contrasting Greek- and Arab-influenced culture, food, and history
  • Join Italian families for cooking lessons and cultural immersion in exchange for English conversation through the “Cucina for English” initiative
  • Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect, and analyze data, complete a research paper, and present your findings to the community

RESEARCH THEMES

  • Conservation of local agrobiodiversity by farmers
  • Climate change impacts on food production
  • Sustainability of organic agriculture and small-scale fisheries
  • Livestock-wolf conflict management
  • Stewardship of endangered heritage livestock breeds
  • Multifunctional forest management

CORE SKILLS

  • Research design and implementation
  • quantitative/qualitative data collection and analysis
  • Questionnaire development
  • Stakeholder interviews
  • Basic statistical analysis
  • Monetary valuation techniques
  • Multicriteria analysis
  • Biodiversity assessments
  • Population monitoring
  • Animal behavior observation
  • GIS and mapping
  • Biodiversity survey techniques,
  • Scientific writing and communication

LEARN MORE

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