Shippensburg University is one of three universities nationwide hosting a U.S. State Department International exchange program, attended by 20 university students from Europe from 13 different countries. The program is called The Study of the U.S. Institute for Students Leaders from Europe.

At Shippensburg, the students are working on environmental issues.

Joining us on The Spark Wednesday was Dr. Lonce Bailey, Professor of Political Science, Program Director for the SUSI Institute, Dr. Claire Jantz, Professor of Geography, Director of Shippensburg’s Center for Land Use and Sustainability or CLUS, and the Academic Director of the SUSI Institute, Petra Karjalainen, a program participant from Finland, and Alonso Ciscar Taulet, a program participant from Spain.

Dr. Bailey provided an overview of the program,"This program is one of many that brings university students to the U.S. and there's a variety of topics that are focused on it. And they're usually mostly done through universities, some nonprofits, to bring them here to have what we would call an authentic American experience. So not not propaganda, not critical, deep insight, but really an authentic, genuine experience. Give people a chance to interpret and see the United States through their own eyes. So we try to give them a variety of experiences, academic sessions, cultural experiences, everything from tractor pulls to farmer's markets. Great 4th of July celebrations. We go to a lot of people's houses for cookouts. They also do community service projects"

Dr. Jantz said there are three areas of the environment they're focusing on in the program at Shippensburg,"One is watersheds -- being in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and all of the things that we do in Pennsylvania to contribute to helping to clean that up and to contribute to some of the problems there as well. That was kind of a natural area of focus for us. We also focus on food systems. Again, Pennsylvania and where we are in south central Pennsylvania, Agriculture is a huge part of our economy, a huge part of our way of life. And so, again, that was kind of a natural fit for for an area of focus. And and then the third area of focus is on energy and policy. And again, Pennsylvania is a has been historically a huge energy producing state. And as we are transitioning away from fossil fuels and into alternative energies."

Petra Karjalainen is a professional chef in Finland and said food was an area of focus for her,"We focused a lot on the social side of things. So we've talked a lot about food insecurity and waste to just feed the local community, which is oftentimes forgotten when we talk about these big issues within the agriculture sector or food production. I mean, at least to me that's been very eye opening. And I feel like that is something that I would like to implement in Finland as well."

Alonso Ciscar indicated he's been eager top learn about the Chespeake Bay watershed,"Pennsylvania is one of the biggest water contributors to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. And knowing how the situation is there, where the important fish and seafood that is now slowly disappearing because the conditions are not suitable for biodiversity. I've been learning a lot about how from the smaller streams every contribution can support to a better water quality and knowing how important that estuaries in the United States and also for our global economy in general."

<a href="https://www.ship.edu/">Shippensburg University</a> is one of three universities nationwide hosting a U.S. State Department International exchange program, attended by 20 university students from Europe from 13 different countries. The program is called <a href="https://www.meridian.org/project/summer-2023-study-of-the-u-s-institutes-susi-for-student-leaders-from-europe/">The Study of the U.S. Institute for Students Leaders from Europe</a>.
At Shippensburg, the students are working on environmental issues.
Joining us on The Spark Wednesday was Dr. Lonce Bailey, Professor of Political Science, Program Director for the SUSI Institute, Dr. Claire Jantz, Professor of Geography, Director of Shippensburg’s Center for Land Use and Sustainability or CLUS, and the Academic Director of the SUSI Institute, Petra Karjalainen, a program participant from Finland, and Alonso Ciscar Taulet, a program participant from Spain.
Dr. Bailey provided an overview of the program,"This program is one of many that brings university students to the U.S. and there's a variety of topics that are focused on it. And they're usually mostly done through universities, some nonprofits, to bring them here to have what we would call an authentic American experience. So not not propaganda, not critical, deep insight, but really an authentic, genuine experience. Give people a chance to interpret and see the United States through their own eyes. So we try to give them a variety of experiences, academic sessions, cultural experiences, everything from tractor pulls to farmer's markets. Great 4th of July celebrations. We go to a lot of people's houses for cookouts. They also do community service projects"
Dr. Jantz said there are three areas of the environment they're focusing on in the program at Shippensburg,"One is watersheds -- being in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and all of the things that we do in Pennsylvania to contribute to helping to clean that up and to contribute to some of the problems there as well. That was kind of a natural area of focus for us. We also focus on food systems. Again, Pennsylvania and where we are in south central Pennsylvania, Agriculture is a huge part of our economy, a huge part of our way of life. And so, again, that was kind of a natural fit for for an area of focus. And and then the third area of focus is on energy and policy. And again, Pennsylvania is a has been historically a huge energy producing state. And as we are transitioning away from fossil fuels and into alternative energies."
Petra Karjalainen is a professional chef in Finland and said food was an area of focus for her,"We focused a lot on the social side of things. So we've talked a lot about food insecurity and waste to just feed the local community, which is oftentimes forgotten when we talk about these big issues within the agriculture sector or food production. I mean, at least to me that's been very eye opening. And I feel like that is something that I would like to implement in Finland as well."
Alonso Ciscar indicated he's been eager top learn about the Chespeake Bay watershed,"Pennsylvania is one of the biggest water contributors to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. And knowing how the situation is there, where the important fish and seafood that is now slowly disappearing because the conditions are not suitable for biodiversity. I've been learning a lot about how from the smaller streams every contribution can support to a better water quality and knowing how important that estuaries in the United States and also for our global economy in general."

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

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