One former University of Iowa student aims to conquer the breast and cervical cancer epidemic in India, a passion she acquired and fostered while being an Iowa Hawkeye.

Some of the best experiences come out of nowhere—but you have to be there first.

After three days of orientation, 18 hours on planes, and two hours driving, I am finally in Ibri, Sultanate of Oman!  This summer, I will be studying intensive Arabic (both Modern Standard and Omani Dialect) at the Noor Majan Institute after  being awarded a Critical Language Scholarship through the U.S. State Department.

From a competitive pool of more than 100 applicants around the country, four UI students have been selected by IES Abroad to share their unique, first-hand study abroad experiences with the world as IES Correspondents for Summer 2018:

The following students from the University of Iowa have been awarded U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) to study critical languages during the summer of 2018:

For decades, the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa has helped make Iowa City a nexus for writers of all ages, walks of life, levels of success—and countries of origin. This environment has enhanced the lives of UI students and Iowa City residents, and for the last several years the IWP has taken the richness of Iowa City’s writing culture to other countries. 

Undergraduate management student Anna Kroeger recently studied abroad at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa. To help fund her study abroad experience, Kroeger applied for and received an IES Abroad Scholarship as well as a scholarship from the Nicole M. Johnston International Fund through the Tippie College of Business. Learn more about Kroeger’s study abroad experience below.

At home in Des Moines, I drive almost everywhere I go. In Iowa City, I walk more, but maybe only a few miles each day. While living in Prague, I walk around 7 miles every day, and always more when I travel on the weekends. My record in one day is sixteen miles in Paris! My feet do feel pretty destroyed after four months of this lifestyle, but the constant movement and exercise is so refreshing (and helps shed off some of that weekly gelato).

Environmental challenges come in all shapes and sizes. Some seem far away and intangible while others touch us in our homes, on our farmland, in the air we breathe, and in the water we drink. Leading experts in climate science and environmental research joined WorldCanvass host Joan Kjaer on April 25 to discuss the most pressing concerns facing Iowans and international efforts to mitigate potentially disastrous effects of climate change and the resulting disruption to populations worldwide.

Senior Akash Bhalerao will graduate from the University of Iowa this weekend. Bhalerao has been involved with numerous UI organizations and departments and has become a familiar face on the campus.