Students in the College of Food Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) are tackling issues not just in Minnesota, but across the globe. The interconnectedness of our global food system and the worldwide scale of environmental and conservation challenges we face today make communicating and collaborating across cultures necessary skills for students entering the workforce. Study abroad programs offer students the chance to see the world beyond the classroom, engage in experiential learning, and encounter people and cultures different than their own.
For students interested in animal science, From Rainforest to Reef: Wildlife Medicine and Conservation in Belize is an opportunity to experience firsthand the day to day operations of a wildlife clinic and other conservation organizations in Belize. Melissa Palmer, PhD, teaching associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, leads this two week study abroad course each year, traditionally in the weeks following the spring semester. This year, the course is being offered during winter break, from January 2-17, 2027 (registration deadline is October 1, 2026).
Students spend the first week of the program at the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC), where co-founder and veterinarian Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand lectures about wildlife medicine and guides students through simple procedures such as blood draws, basic exams, and administering medications.
Animal Science major Ilona Zhukouski, who participated in the spring 2026 session of the trip, says one of the things she most enjoyed was working hands-on with green iguanas under instruction from Dr. Paquet-Durand. “We got to bathe the iguanas, remove ticks from them, and give them exams,” Ilona explains. “It was incredible to learn how to properly handle them.”
In addition to lectures from Dr. Paquet-Durand and other wildlife medicine experts, students participate in a host of other activities, including nature hikes, a zoo visit, and snorkeling in a coral reef. During the whole trip, students are immersed in Belizean culture.
“One of the beautiful things about studying abroad is immersing yourself in everything that might be different from what you’re used to,” says Mia Weber, another student from the spring 2026 trip, majoring in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology. “Even though everyone in the world is dealing with different challenges, this trip confirmed for me that we aren’t all that different from each other.”
One benefit of studying abroad through a short-term program like From Rainforest to Reef is the way it can fit into an inflexible schedule. For students who need a very specific series of courses each semester to complete their degree on time, learning abroad may feel out of reach. The flexibility of the program being held during winter break (or in May, as in past sessions) makes it a great option for students without much wiggle room in their schedules.
One such student is Penelope Hobbs, who participated while preparing to apply to veterinary school. Penelope earned an undergraduate degree from Cornell University, with majors in biology and biometry/statistics, and decided to pursue veterinary training after several years in the workforce. The program's timing and length meant it fit around their work and prerequisite classes.
Penelope says the highlight of the trip for them was time spent at the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), a protected wilderness area and field station in the foothills of Belize’s Maya Mountains. The group stayed at BFREE during the second part of the trip and learned about conservation challenges facing local ecosystems.
“The educators and guides we worked with there were so knowledgeable, both in terms of academic and traditional knowledge” Penelope recalls. “They were excited to answer our questions—and we had a lot of questions!”
Penelope plans to focus their future veterinary career on mixed rural practice with large and small animals. “I’ve been a farmer for most of my life, and so I have a lot of experience with farm animals, and some veterinary experience with companion animals,” they say. “Before this program, I had no literacy in wildlife medicine, and the Belize trip was a great way to learn about these topics before I begin the vet school application process this fall.”
All three students lift up Dr. Palmer’s teaching style as part of what made the trip successful.
“Something I admire about Dr. Palmer is her willingness to admit to the edges of her expertise,” says Penelope. “If there was a question she didn’t have the answer to, she would say ‘I don’t know’, but then she would find out, and get back to you. That honesty cultivates trust.”
“Dr. Palmer worked hard during the whole trip to make sure every student was having fun,” Mia says. “This trip really opened my eyes to new possibilities that I would love to pursue after graduation.”
From Rainforest to Reef: Wildlife Medicine and Conservation in Belize will run during winter break, January 2-17, 2027. Apply today through the Learning Abroad Center. Questions? Get in touch with Dr. Melissa Palmer.