UMD delegates (left to right) Leah Scheilfer, Colleen Shipley, Yash Mehta, Samantha Bingaman and Margaret Doyle pose at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
Image Credit: Colleen Shipley
Alongside fellow undergraduates from around the world, five University of Maryland students gathered in Sydney, Australia to learn about sustainable urban development via the Universitas 21 Undergraduate Summer School.
The Summer School event, which took place between July 2nd and July 17th at the University of New South Wales, focused on the theme “Shaping the Future City.” Students were asked to submit an essay explaining their interest in urban development and environmental issues to the university, which funded the trip to Australia for those selected.
“In the world we live in-- one in which people are moving to cities in droves-- sustainable urban planning is a crucial environmental issue,” said Leah Scheilfer, junior Environmental Science and Policy major. This program has shown me the importance of inclusivity and connectivity in our cities, and has shown me tools to achieve these goals.”
Students were encouraged to make connections of their own during the program, and time was allotted to allow participants to network and receive input from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
“There isn't just one way of approaching or doing things when it comes to urbanism,” said Colleen Shipley, Environmental Science and Policy major. “There is no "one size fits all" solution to environmental problems. It requires many disciplines and backgrounds coming together [and] taking culture, topography, history, etc. into account.”
During the program, students also concentrated on the important role agriculture plays in sustainability.
“Since agriculture is an essential part of supporting any population, emphasis was put on sustainability and improved food distribution, but especially on patronizing local farmers through farmers’ markets,” said Environmental Science and Policy major, Samantha Bingaman. “It is environmentally responsible, supports the community, and is a positive way for people to get in touch with their city.”
Bingaman, Shipley, Scheilfer, and two other UMD students in attendance -- Margaret Doyle (studying Urban Development through IVSP) and Yash Mehta (a student in the business school) -- were able to “get in touch” with Sydney during their free time, specifically visiting the Opera House, Redfern, Newtown, and a number of coffee shops, Sydney being famous for its high quality coffee beans.
“Though the lectures were very helpful, the most impactful moments of this trip did not come from the classroom,” Bingaman said. “Simply experiencing a new culture and landscape, having limited access to Wi-Fi and technology, and meeting people from different backgrounds allowed me to see the world through brand new eyes.”
