Honors student explores sustainable agriculture in Mongolia

Understanding people and nature interactions

Early this summer, I embarked on my second ever international adventure and first study abroad: a two-week Wild and Working Lands course in Mongolia.

I was expecting to see some cool wildlife, visit a couple of different ecosystems, and eat a lot of meat. I was not expecting that a country across the world from my home would be so similar in terms of landscape, livestock, and wildlife to Wyoming or that I would get to meet so many kind and incredible people—tour guides, UW faculty, and peers alike. I had the privilege of traveling with Dr. Koprowski, dean of the Haub school of Environment and Natural Resources and president of the American Society of Mammalogists, and fellow nature enthusiasts who each made the trip just as vibrant and unforgettable as a study abroad should be. Together, we rode camels, fossil-hunted in the Gobi Desert, slept in gers, wandered the streets of Ulaanbaatar, watched a perfect sunset in Hustai National Park, tracked Przewalski’s horses, spoke with local herders, sat in on a Buddhist service, hiked the Flaming Cliffs, and visited ancient historical sites, all while learning what makes Mongolia’s land management and wildlife so unique.

Having seen firsthand some of the threats to both—increasing meat demand and production, water pollution and shortages, and the country’s growing urban population—has helped me view those issues as far more immediate, complex, and nuanced than I previously thought they were. With a prospective education and career focused on sustainable agriculture in different countries, experiences like these, where I can gain a more in-depth understanding of the interactions between people and nature, will prove invaluable. Thanks to Honors College resources like the Honors Study Abroad scholarship, I know there will be many such learning opportunities ahead. I cannot wait for the next one!

 

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