Earlier this week, students left for the first of their three expedition field courses (EFC) of the semester, Sustainable Food Systems. The first week of EFCs is always a little hectic for staff and students, particularly so for the first of the semester. A lot is expected of the students as they continue their intensive Thai classes with lessons focused on vocabulary that will be particularly useful in the field and engage in extensive reading, discussions, and writing assignments during their seminar sessions. The week, spent with Ajaan Abram Bixler and the field instructor team of Pi Ming, Pi Jack, Pi Jonas, Pi Am, and Pi Pui, provided an overview and strong academic base for the topics that will be covered more in-depth in the field over the next few weeks.
Seminar week culminated on Friday with a writing assignment to help students synthesize the mass amount of material they covered in the first week and a factory field trip. Students visited the Limsakdakul Factory which primarily processes and stores grain. The factory is an example of large-scale agricultural operation in a semi-urban setting, which they’ll be able to compare and contrast with agricultural practices they see in the field.
Ajaan Abram Bixler lectures on the challenges Thai farmers currently face.
Pi Jonas teaches an ecology lesson during seminar.
Students arrive at Limsakdakul Factory.
Students investigate the mountains of grain during their factory tour.
Students learn about the factory during a meeting with the management.
Elain smiles for the camera as she climbs up to check out one of the silos.
