Brunnenburg Semester - University of Minnesota, Morris

Brunnenburg Semester
Fall Semester 2017
The UMM Brunnenburg semester will offer
students the unique opportunity to experience
and study the environmental challenges of living
sustainably in the Italian Alps. Students will live
and take classes in the compound of a 13th
century castle located above the town of
Merano, Italy. The semester will consist of a full
course load (including courses on Geology,
Environmental Science, Agro-Archeology, Glacial
Geology and the History and People of the Tirol)
and opportunities to complete internships in
sustainable agriculture on the working farm and
vineyards of Brunnenburg Castle. Courses will
be taught by UMM faculty and by faculty at
Brunnenburg. All classes will involve excursions
throughout the eastern Alps and to several cities
nearby (Venice, Bolzano and Munich)
Existing UMM courses:
ESCI 2201. (ENVT) Field Experience in Environmental Challenges of the
Italian Alps. Study of the impact of geologic processes such as tectonism,
mass movement, and flooding; understanding climate change through the
observation of vegetation changes and glacier fluctuations; soil and water
resources and the archaeological record of the nature of human settlements
in the Alps.
Geol 4140 – Advanced Glacial and Quaternary Geology – Topics will include the glacial record of the Italian Alps, modern glaciers and recent changes in
the glacial environment
Geol 23XX (SCI) Geology of Italy (Tentative). Rocks, minerals and fossils of
the Northern Italy. Geologic History of Italy and the geologic origin of the
Italian Alps. Economic Geology of Italy.
FACULTY PROFILES
James Cotter is a Morse-Alumni
Distinguished Teaching
Professor of Geology at UMM.
His area of expertise is glacial
geology. He has studied
glaciers, glacial deposits and
glacial landforms in the Alps, the Rocky Mountains,
South America, Antarctica and Minnesota. He has
brought students to the Italian Alps to study and
complete research since 2001.
Courses previously taught by Brunnenburg Faculty:
Agro-Archeaology. An introduction to the history and pre-history of
agriculture, drawing from the resources of the Tyrolean Alps. An examination
of the impact of changes in agriculture on the social and religious realm.
History and the Philosophy of Science. This course promotes reflection on
science and its history with a focus on Tyrolean pioneers and how the South
Tyrol itself influences science.
Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture. This course develops skills and
knowledge in sustainable agriculture through practical experience in
Brunnenburg’s vineyards, orchards, and permaculture garden, and working
with their heritage breeds of farm animals.
Find information about course details, application deadlines, program fees, itineraries and more at:
http://www.morris.umn.edu/ACE/studyabroad