“From this experience I learned that I love, and have a strength for, connecting with people about their culture! I found myself most excited in conversations about Australians' cultural traditions and perspectives on their local issues,” reflected Coral Riegler, an aerospace engineering major on the Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment program this summer.
Students travel along the coast of North Queensland, Australia, where they study the wide variety of ecosystems the region houses, along with learn about the continent’s environmental challenges and sustainability practices.
“It was important for me to go abroad to better my worldwide perspective and awareness. I hoped that learning about global issues from a standpoint outside the United States would help me reevaluate and re-inspire my thoughts and actions towards issues such as climate change,” shared Riegler.
The program provided Riegler with new technical expertise as well as soft skills such as independence and intercultural competence, all which will be valuable for her in her future career.
“The interpersonal skills I gained from this trip, especially across cultures, will help me move forward into leadership roles in my career. This experience added a new depth to my empathy that will help me be an effective leader in the future. I am pursuing aerospace engineering, and my new knowledge about environmental impacts and sustainability issues will also help me advocate for increasing sustainability in the aerospace industry,” she shared.
Out of all the incredible experiences Riegler and the group shared, some of her favorites were exploring the unforgettable natural environment of Australia and making new friends along the way.
“The most unforgettable moment was snorkeling through the Great Barrier Reef and seeing the remarkable marine life and coral. I loved completing health monitoring surveys during this to help give back to the reef, too! My other favorite memories include hiking through a huge variety of ecosystems, and overall spending time learning about Australia's culture with an awesome group of people!”