Lumbini
Sustainability Circle
Sights, Sounds & Spirits of the Himalayas
Himalayan Circle Tour Action Lab
Study Abroad Program
Action research, Community service, and Eco-adventure
An experiential learning experience that combines research, eco-adventure, and hands-on community service-learning projects. Nothing can replace a uniquely immersive experience that takes students to Nepal, where they can experience the sights, sounds, and spirits of the magnificent rural communities, their people, their cultures, and the bio-surroundings. This is an academic learning experience, unlike any others that combines research, community service, and an eco-adventure. The program allows students to discover new cultures, to see sustainable development in action, and challenges them to find ways to be a giver. This experiential learning, when combined with rigorous research, inquiry, and investigation, can open doors to personal growth and academic maturity.
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December 2017- January 2018
Study Abroad Curricular Outlines
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Building a Long-term Environmental Monitoring Lab (DEMP) to Enhance Health and Eco Awareness
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Hands-On Community-engaged Research Projects
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Exposure to Rural Mountain Landscapes, Environment, Bio-diversity, & Sustainable Development
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Opportunity to Immerse in Local Culture
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Seminar Abroad Presentations and Interactions with Local College Students
Quick Links:
Program Brochure
Program Itinerary
Program Syllabus
Program Itinerary Map
LOCAL VENUES & RESOURCES
The local collaborator (PNMF) has a riverside campus in Siddharthanagar, a non-profit associate degree granting paramedical college. With 62% female student population, this college strives to give its socio-economically diverse student body a holistic educational environment which includes not only high quality academics but also provides exposure to research and community outreach related activities.
To that end, in 2015, PNMF welcomed UNM's interdisciplinary team of faculty and students (NSF-funded exploratory trip) and other like-minded scholars and policy makers from Nepal to plant a seed for an international research hub Lumbini Senter for Sustainability. The platform has been active in conducing research and various outreach programs in areas such as health, urban resiliency and environment and sustainable development.
This progressively forward looking campus, which has gone solar and off-grid, has formed an eco-club student group to start a campus sustainability program. It has also initiated a bio-gallery wall to promote river conservation initiative in addition to starting a vermicomposting pilot experiment. Other plans include: river boating, river-side bird sanctuary, recycling programs, and various awareness programs (water and air pollution). They also welcome student-to-student collaborative projects.
Thus, the visiting group of faculty and students can have access to campus staff support, science labs, meeting halls, high quality guest lectures from local colleges and the policymaking circle, and help from the LCS coordinator to organize community events and curricular engagements.