Dina to Denmark - Study Abroad

It's official, I've been accepted! DIS Copenhagen has granted me the opportunity to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark for 7 weeks during  the summer of 2017. I am enrolled in 7 credits to be transferred back to the University of Arizona to support my major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and minors in Marine Science and Natural Resources: Wildlife Conservation. 

My first three weeks I will be enrolled in Children in a Multicultural Context, which has a 5 day study trip to London, England. I cannot do more justice than the description in the syllabus from last summer, so I have attached it for you as a picture!

My last four weeks I will be enrolled in Arctic Ecology, which has a 5 day study trip to Svalbard, Norway. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it's known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes! I have also attached a photo of the syllabus' course description.

The cost of the campaign will cover my room, my food, my course credits, my school material, my airfare and travel within Europe, and all the little fees wrapped up in the program. 

For those of you that know me, know that I put my all into what I do. I work hard in school, and as a Junior in college, I have over 120 credits. I have worked every semester of college, saving up for such an educational adventure. 

I currently work for Supplemental Instruction (SI) at the University of Arizona as a Leader for Organic Chemistry. Every week I hold 3 sessions that bring students together to review lecture material in a collaborative setting utilizing alternative learning techniques. Students that attend supplemental instruction, on average, receive a half to a whole letter grade better than those that don't attend Supplemental Instruction. The success of the students has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my college experiences. 

I also work for the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, where I coordinate programs for the public to experience the Universe through our observatory on Mount Lemmon. 

In addition to working, and being a student, I have had the privilege to be an intern at Reid Park Zoo in the Education Department, this spring semester. I finally have the opportunity to join my love for science and conservation with my passion for education. It has been an amazing experience thus far.  

For the second year in a row, I am mentoring middle school and high school student in field-base science fair projects for the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Education Fair (SARSEF). Last year all three of my students won awards and moved on to the state fair. This year, my 2 students are working hard as they wrap up their data collection, and I am very excited to see how far this research project takes them.

I am involved in several clubs, such as the College of Science Ambassadors and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ambassadors. In addition to all that I do day to day, I coordinating a high school summer camp for early summer 2017 to engage high school students with community organizations of various science disciplines.

I am thankful for support of my campaign in any form. Whether that be a donation, following my journey on my blog that I will keep throughout my journey (I will let the Facebook community and anyone who leaves their name know when I set that up), or words of advice from those that love to travel.

Thank you!