Participating in study abroad was a life-changing experience for biomedical sciences student Kaitlin Ferraro.

“I made unforgettable memories, met amazing people, and learned a lot about a new place,” she says. “I hope that more students have this amazing opportunity in the future.”

She was one of three students who helped lead a group of Faculty of Science alumni on a visit to the rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches of Costa Rica with Chris Houser, interim vice-president, research and innovation. Dr. Houser has been taking University of Windsor students to Costa Rica since 2017.

This trip educated alumni from biology, physics, chemistry, and computer science about the high-impact learning opportunities available to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science and to reminisce on their own experiences at the University.

Besides Ferraro, guides on the first leg of the trip included chemistry major Deya’a Almasri and Anumita Jain, a student of behaviour, cognition, and neuroscience. The three recently completed their study abroad trip focused on the ecohydrology of the rainforest. The alumni experience was supported by biochemistry student Cameron Chevalier, who participated in the study-abroad trip in June 2022.

In 2023 alone, students from the Faculty of Science joined study-abroad programs in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, France, Iceland, and Scotland.

“Study abroad allowed me to gain unique perspectives by immersing myself in new cultures and learning from their people and environment,” Almasri says. “It truly is an experience that cannot be replicated in any classroom.”

Alumni on this trip donated to the Faculty of Science LEAD Fund, enabling more undergraduate students to study abroad next year. Houser welcomes their contributions.

“The generous support of our alumni has allowed us to provide current and future undergraduate students with exciting and unprecedented hands-on experiences: from the rainforests of Costa Rica to the icefields of Iceland and the urban bird sounds of Paris,” he says.