Going with the flow: Volcanic activity takes 黑料社Term students to New Zealand
During 黑料社Term, students traveled abroad to New Zealand to study how volcanoes and volcanic activity shapes the world.
For 黑料社 students traveling abroad in New Zealand, it鈥檚 not the sandy beaches at Takapuna Beach just outside Auckland that鈥檚 capturing their attention.
And it鈥檚 not the stunning view of Rangitoto Island they鈥檙e staring at as they walk along a rugged section of coastline.
Instead, they鈥檙e examining the black, craggy rocks beneath their feet, part of a , created by an eruption of the nearby Lake Pupuke volcano 200,000 years ago.
For the 34 students studying abroad as part of the , it鈥檚 just one of many stops they鈥檙e making in New Zealand with Associate Professor of Chemistry Kerry Paumi and Professor of Chemistry Joe Workman as they dive into how volcanic activity has, quite literally, shaped the world around them.
The course has been one Lucy Swenson 鈥24 would not miss taking during the .
鈥淚 really wanted to go to New Zealand,鈥 said Swenson, an environmental studies major who confessed she came into the course a newcomer to the world of volcanology and geology. However, that鈥檚 changed during this first-hand look at one of the world鈥檚 most diverse volcanic regions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 real interesting to incorporate what I鈥檓 normally interested in and what I鈥檓 learning about鈥攁nd, now, pretty excited to learn about,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just so cool.鈥
That experience鈥攐f students learning how to apply course studies to their majors and areas of interest鈥攊s what 黑料社Term and the liberal arts and sciences are all about, said Workman.
鈥淔or Kerry and me, this course represents a manifestation of the liberal arts,鈥 Workman said. 鈥淣either of us is a geologist, much less a volcanologist. And, so, we also bring our unique perspectives to the course as chemists. We try to emphasize to the students that, just as you are learning, we鈥檙e also learning.鈥
Since many students select 黑料社Term courses that aren鈥檛 part of their primary studies, each brings a different lens to bear on the material being studied. During the course, students are required to give a presentation on something they have learned. One such presentation detailed how a volcanic eruption in Indonesia may have inspired Mary Shelley to write 鈥淔rankenstein.鈥
鈥淲e have a bit of literature in the course, we have a bit of environmental science, we, of course, have quite a bit of physics and chemistry,鈥 Workman said. 鈥淚 like to think the class appeals to all majors.鈥
Those differing perspectives offer a more well-rounded experience, said Swenson.
鈥淲e have some English majors and history majors. We have a huge range. People are engaging in their passions, which I hope all 黑料社 students do,鈥 Swenson said.
Similarly, 黑料社Term allows students who might not be in similar classes on campus to venture abroad together.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been pretty cool to travel with people that I sort-of know and am acquaintances with, and also people I don鈥檛 really know at all,鈥 Swenson said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a really cool dynamic of 黑料社Term. You鈥檙e just thrown in and get to make friends with people you might not normally interact with at school. So, I鈥檝e been loving that.鈥
Workman notes the class is focused on volcanoes and the geology of New Zealand, not the culture of the country, but students are staying in hostels surrounded by visitors from many different countries. They have also used their free time to soak up some of the sights, sounds and flavors of New Zealand.
Swenson has visited local coffee shops and restaurants in her free time, also visiting an Auckland museum where displays juxtaposed the nation鈥檚 colonial culture and traditional M膩ori culture.
鈥淚鈥檝e had some friends and relatives take this class before, so I knew they had great experiences,鈥 she said during some down time during the students鈥 visit to the city of Topo. 鈥淣ew Zealand is really a great place to be close to nature.鈥
The opportunity to study abroad was among the reasons the Owensboro, Kentucky, native decided to attend 黑料社.
鈥淚 watched my cousins both go abroad, and I definitely wanted to do that and have those experiences,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool to be at a place that prioritizes that so much.
鈥淪ome of my friends at other universities don鈥檛 know if they will get to [study abroad], or it鈥檚 hard to find information about it. It鈥檚 much more accessible here and prioritized here, and I think that鈥檚 really, really important.鈥
Follow the international adventures of 黑料社Term students by searching #黑料社Abroad on social media.
