Ecology and Environmental Sciences

EES students are able to take courses relevant to their academic interests, along with being able to discover themselves and gain invaluable life experiences. Unique interdisciplinary programs will inspire you with a new vision of what is possible and will transform how you look at yourself, your community, and your world. Be sure to visit the Office of International Programs for help selecting, applying, and preparing for your study abroad experience.

Follow this link for a list of programs that align well with the EES curriculum. Check back for updates to this list.

Braden Collard in Costa Rica

Braden, an EES student, is studying in Costa Rica during Spring 2024. He will be sharing his experiences in a biweekly blog!  His posts can be found here.

Australia

EES senior Melissa Genoter studied abroad in Australia at the Deakin University campus in Warrnambool, Australia. She was enrolled in a marine science program and took courses in marine biology, coastal zone management, and indigenous natural resource management.

Surfing was the most valuable skill she learned abroad!  It helped her connect with new surroundings, physically get out of her comfort zone, and to make a great group of friends.

Her advice to others looking to study abroad is to start early! The application process can seem daunting at first, but UMaine and its providers have great resources to help you every step of the way.

Tanzania

Sarah Hammond traveled to Tanzania to experience a unique study abroad course that focused heavily on sustainability, being aware of environmental consciences and supporting the roots of local communities. The  GIVE Volunteers program teaches its volunteers to invest in community-based tourism, which establishes long term sustainable benefits for local communities. The idea of supporting your neighbor was encompassed through the community-based initiatives and still resonates with Sarah, even now after the program ended. On her particular trip, she was in a group of 36 other volunteers.

They traveled to Zanzibar, one of the two larger islands off the coast of Tanzania, where they worked with the community of Kairo to install offices for the teachers, painted a classroom, and taught English to the children and adults.

After Zanzibar, she traveled to Arusha and volunteered with a women’s co-op to build chicken coups. Then Sarah went on a coffee tour, where she was able to see coffee plants and watch the process of making instant coffee straight from the bean. Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park were their next stops, where they learned about the terrible impacts of poaching.

New Zealand

Kalina Kinyon, a Senior EES Ambassador, spent a semester studying abroad in New Zealand! She studied conservation and behavioral ecology while backpacking all across the country. She lived in campus accommodations and traveled to every major city. Her favorite experience abroad was seeing the Blue Penguin colonies in Dunedin.

Ireland

Julia Iannuzzi spent a semester at the University College Cork (UCC) in Cork, Ireland. UCC is known as one of the world’s most sustainable universities. While at the university she joined the Environmental Society and participated in the global climate strike.
Julia also took a course about Sustainable Living, the Environment and Human Health, and Environmental Economic Geography.

EES students can take advantage of courses at other institutions for a variety of reasons. From simply saving money at a local community college to unique field courses, there are opportunities to gain new perspectives and experiences by studying away.