Within the U.S., the College of Natural Science offers two Study Away programs ­— Forensic Entomology in Gainesville, Fla., and Science Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney World and SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla.

Internationally, the Office of Study Abroad offers opportunities for students to travel to Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua. This is the third year Ryan Kimbirauskas, board-certified forensic entomologist and professor in the Center for Integrated Studies, has traveled with students to Florida to study forensic entomology.
“The primary theme is investigating and learning how insects are associated with criminal investigation, much like what you would see on ‘CSI’ or ‘Bones,’” Kimbirauskas said. “The final examination involves being assigned to a crime scene and using insects to estimate time of death.”

Fisheries and wildlife sophomore Jon Busken is going on the trip and said it will be a good experience.

“It’s a really cool opportunity because it is a week long and an opportunity to earn three credits that go toward my major,” Busken said.

There currently are eight students signed up for the trip out of 20 spots, which is less than years past, Kimbirauskas said.

“That is fewer than I was expecting,” Kimbirauskas said. “We have taken 18 and 16 the last two years.”

The Walt Disney World and SeaWorld trip to see the Science Behind the Scenes has been a popular destination, said Larry Besaw, a professor in the Department of Entomology.

Students get to see the operations of Disney World, including going underneath Magic Kingdom in the tunnels where cast members work.

Chemistry junior Amy Pochodylo had a great experience on the trip in 2010.

“Disney World is one of those places that you idolize as a kid, and getting to go behind the scenes and learn more about it was a pretty cool experience, it’s a childhood dream come true,” Pochodylo said.

Another program travels to Nicaragua. Students get to visit the rainforest and observe different plants, animals and culture, said Gerald Urquhart, assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Only seven students are enrolled to attend compared to an average of 10 to 20 students in the past, he said.

“Students try to figure out how people live on a dollar a day because a large portion of the world’s population is living on a dollar a day or less,” Urquhart said. “We have students each get one dollar and go to the local market and try to figure out how to purchase enough food to get enough calories.”