Post by Francesca M

🌍 I spent the semester learning what textbooks can’t capture. I had the privilege of studying abroad with School for International Training’s IHP Climate Change: Politics of Land, Water, and Energy. Over three months, I (and one 40-liter backpack) spent time in three countries, host families, cultures, and languages: Spanish, Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Nepali. Across all three regions, I observed how political unrest and governance fragility—from Ecuador’s protests over gasoline subsidies to Morocco’s mobilizations around healthcare to Nepal’s government transitions—run by local youth my age. This highlights that climate and energy strategies are inseparable from broader questions of institutional legitimacy, social equity, and civic participation. Here are some semester highlights: 🇪🇨 In Ecuador, we examined human–ecological interactions in the Galápagos Islands, studying conservation, potable water, and local livelihoods in addition to visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station. 
🇲🇦 In Morocco, we visited the Noor Solar Plant, one of the world’s most extensive concentrated solar facilities, and studied renewable energy transitions in MENA (Middle East North Africa). It was awesome to explore a new desert after spending the past few semesters in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. 🇳🇵In Nepal, we discussed the role of local and multilateral policy in managing air quality and managing the melting permafrost of the Himalayas. Traveling through three countries showed me how cultural context shapes the meaning of human-centered design. It reminded me that effective data design and storytelling must translate complex and nuanced systems into stories people can resonate with and see themselves in. I had a blast this semester working with mapping tools, Excel graphics, and data aggregation on my projects. These skills helped me better understand the places I explored abroad, allowing me to visualize cultural, geographic, and economic patterns I couldn’t before. Using data to interpret my experiences added a whole new layer of insight to living and learning in another country. For my final project in my economics class, I wrote an “entity in the system.” I compared data centers, AI development, and energy use in the U.S. and Morocco, analyzing how digital infrastructure intersects with development sovereignty. A huge thank you to SIT, professors, new friends, and colleagues for this life-changing experience. As I finish off this semester, I look forward to returning to Scripps for the second half of my junior year! #StudyAbroad #ClimateChange #RenewableEnergy #FeildStudies #GlobalLearning #Nepal #Morocco #Ecuador #Land #Water #Energy #Nexus