GEOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OFFERS
BALTIC STATES & RUSSIA
TRIP
BLACKSBURG,
Nov. 18, 2003 - Virginia
Tech's department
of geography in the
College of Natural
Resources is planning
an inter-sessional
study abroad trip
to the Baltic States
and Russia. The trip,
which takes place
from Dec. 28th to
Jan.16th, is a joint
venture between geography
and the department
of foreign languages
and literatures.
John
Boyer, instructor
of geography, and
Nyusya Milman, associate
professor of Russian,
will coordinate the
trip. In a significant
departure from last
year's trip, which
was focused primarily
on Russia and Russian
language studies,
the 2003-2004 endeavor
will be broadening
the academic content
geographically and
historically, as well
as expanding the physical
scope of the trip
to include Finland
and Estonia.
"I am hoping to enhance
the student's educational
experiences by including
such activities as
visits to forestry
operations, wildlife
refuges, fishing enterprises,
and vodka distilling
plants, as well as
cultural events such
as music, ballet,
museum visits and
historic sites," says
Boyer.
The
College of Natural
Resources at Virginia
Tech consistently
ranks among the top
five programs of its
kind in the nation.
Faculty members stress
both the technical
and human elements
of natural resources
and instill in students
a sense of stewardship
and land-use ethics.
Areas of studies include
environmental resource
management, fisheries
and wildlife sciences,
forestry, geospatial
and environmental
analysis, natural
resource recreation,
urban forestry, wood
science and forest
products, geography,
and international
development.
