EUROPE THROUGH MY LENS
Cities and trees- a connection as old as time. In this experience I focused on photographing the trees in European cities. I wanted to explore Europe through a creative lens using a medium that I have always been fond of. Cameras are a fairly transportable material, which made it a perfect choice for my travel experience. I took both digital analog pictures. I chose older cameras to convey the antique feeling of the cities. Some of the discoveries I made:
-The size of the trees often reflects the length of the city's history
- Watching the trees along the bike trail change over the seasons
- Art crosses over nature... or is it the other way around?
- Oftentimes the tallest thing in old European cities isn't a building, it's a tree.
These creative ideas helped me discover these cities in a different way. I hope I captured the spirit of my experience well in the photo journal.
City Trees
EXPLORING EUROPE THROUGH FOOD
Ever had a dark beer ice cream with buckwheat mousse? Well I hadn't either before this honors experience. Being on co-op in Germany, I have the opportunity to travel around Europe during my free time. And, the best way to explore different local cultures is through food. Food can tell you about a location's social norms, agricultural specialties. For example, in Spain people eat a very late dinner around 8 or 9 pm due to the hot climate. Or, in the Netherlands, fish dishes like salted herring are very popular due to the proximity to the sea. Europe’s food scene is one of the most diverse and finest in the world. In this exploration, I chose to be adventurous and seek out unfamiliar dishes and new flavors. I also went to grocery stores in different countries to see the variety in products. The stores are so different from those in the US, and even locally there are many distinctions. From street food to fine dining, I tasted many new dishes. Read my reflection at the link below, or check out my Germany Blog for more info about my international co-op experience!
What I Ate
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE LEARNING
In fall of 2023, the semester before I traveled to my International Co-op in Germany, I independently designed and completed a course of study on German language and culture. Although I had learned a few languages before, this experience was unique in that I approached the process independently. Moreover, I sought out more about daily life and culture in Germany because I wanted to ease my transition into the country. This experience was challenging for me because I had very little guidance, and had to find information based on my own interests. I did a lot of online research on the best resources for German language learning, and chose some that would suit my learning style and fluency goals. I also kept a diary in German to practice common vocabulary. A sample from my diary is shown in the picture to the right. For the cultural aspect, I was lucky to already know a few people who had traveled to Germany for a work placement before, so I could ask them for advice. It was also helpful to consult with others who had moved to a foreign country independently before. Through this Honors experience, I learned the German language through several different programs and interviewed people about their experience coming to Germany for the first time. Read more about my self-designed experience, including things I wish I knew in my Reflection above!
UC HORTICULTURE CLUB
My Self-Designed Experience in Spring 2022 was titled "Establishing Horticulture Club". This club had been in the back of my mind even before I stepped foot on UC’s campus.
This experience has helped me become a better Global Citizen Scholar by developing my leadership skills and creating valuable connections within and outside of UC. This experience helped me learn many organizational skills and technology. A lot of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into establishing a club is often overlooked. There are so many things to figure out like social media, constitution, executive board, etc.. I am very proud of what the Horticulture club is growing to be. The club has already been able to help the University Greenhouse in many ways. Many club members have reached out to the Greenhouse manager and are volunteering there in their free time. Others helped run the seasonal Adopt-A-Plant event that took place for the first time since the pandemic hit. I knew the club was a big hit due to the growing membership, but I was pleasantly surprised when the campus newsletter reached out to publish an article about it. My goal for the future is to continue the upward trajectory of the club. I want to have more hands-on meetings, field trips, and guest lecturers. I am also looking into partnering with other organizations within and outside of UC. After establishing many connections through during the first semester of the club, I can’t wait to explore the opportunities!
Horticulture Club Gallery
2022
NAWI RESEARCH
In the fall of 2020 I began my first University Honors Experience: conducting undergraduate research on University of Cincinnati’s National Water Innovation Alliance Team. This Department of Energy funded project focuses on reusing local sources of water to eliminate the need for water transportation expenses. The team at UC specializes in the reuse of agricultural drainage water. Water that runs off from farm operations can be cleaned and reused for irrigation or other municipal purposes. This project is led by Dr. Dionysiou of the Environmental Engineering department, and involves other professors, PhD students, graduate students, and undergraduates. Moreover, the UC team works closely with the team at Colorado State University and industry partners.
My role as a researcher included reading scientific literature on state-of-the-art water reuse technologies. I analyzed and extracted information with the goal of contributing to a published Critical Review paper. I learned many new research skills, bringing me closer to my goal of attaining a PhD.
On this page, you can find my UC Undergraduate showcase presentation, and a news article published about my work. It showcases the importance of our research for the department, and our world.
