Working on a class assignment in the SLU experimental forest in Sweden.

Author: Tyler Merreighn | Majors: Public Health and Biology

My name is Tyler Merreighn, and I am a senior in the College of Education and Health Professions and Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. I am majoring in public health and biology with a minor in medical humanities. I spent 7 weeks during Summer 2022 with DIS in Copenhagen, and I had study tours in Sweden and Iceland.

I spent 7 weeks this summer with DIS (fun fact: DIS doesn’t actually stand for anything!) in Copenhagen studying European Biodiversity for the first 3 weeks and Arctic Ecology for the last 4. I chose DIS for 2 big reasons: 1) because I heard the professors there are sure to integrate field studies into the courses and 2) because study tours are built into its programs where you go to another European country for a week and have class there. Since public health is my primary major at the U of A, I haven’t had as much exposure to biology, and I thought this was a perfect program to expand my biology field experience. Since I’m pre-med, a lot of the biology courses I take are geared more toward cellular biology, but this program provided me with an opportunity to take biology courses related more to ecology and conservation while still being relevant and counting toward my major.

For my first course, I traveled with my 15 classmates and professor to Sweden for a week to study European Biodiversity in the field. There, we learned about taxonomy in the gardens of the binomial nomenclature system founder, Carl Linnaeus; examined the impact of monoculture and forestry on biodiversity in an experimental forest; collected freshwater organism samples at a pond to determine the stability of that micro-ecosystem; took a guided tour of a zoo and learned about zoos’ role in conservation; and examined a fisherman’s catch of crabs, mussels, and sea urchins in one of Sweden’s coastal national parks. In total, there were only 4 days of class spent entirely in the classroom, and this was incredibly conducive to a higher level of learning and closer friendships with my classmates.

My next class didn’t go quite as smoothly, and it wasn’t the fault of anyone. Sometimes things happen, and you have to be adaptable. This lesson was reinforced time and time again during my Arctic Ecology course, and my class and I were still able to make the absolute best of it! The first couple of days of class were spent discussing the various adaptations of flora and fauna in the Arctic — the Arctic is an extreme place, so its organisms must be adapted to that environment. On the third day of class, my classmates and I were forced to adapt. Our study tour to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the world’s northernmost town with more than 10,000 inhabitants situated well above the Arctic Circle, was canceled due to a pilot strike. This is what we were looking forward to the most, but our professor came a couple of days later with an alternative: Greenland. A couple of days later, my classmates and I entered the classroom to see a large sign reading a Stephen Hawking quote: “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” We were informed that all flights into and out of western Greenland were canceled for the rest of July due to fog conditions. Ultimately, we learned northern Iceland was our new destination. Northern Iceland isn’t situated within the Arctic Circle, so we had to adjust our expectations to learn Arctic Ecology outside the Arctic. And you know what? I’m glad we were open to adapting to that change.

In Iceland, we observed Arctic terns, eider ducks, Icelandic auk, ptarmigan, and other bird species we had been preparing to see in Svalbard and Greenland; we saw Arctic flora adaptations up-close in reindeer lichen, Arctic willow, and Arctic birch species; we learned about the migrations of different Arctic whale species and even saw some of them on a whale watching tour; and we had a lot of fun! We stayed in a small town with only 1,500 people; went white water rafting; made hot chocolate from hot spring water; woke up at 6am to sit in the hot tub and ride waterslides; spent some time at a geothermal spa; and I turned 21!

I’d be remiss to not talk about the wonderful city of Copenhagen where I spent 5 of the last 7 weeks. Copenhagen is a city where everyone bikes, spends their sunny days at the harbor (which is one of the cleanest in the world and perfect for swimming), takes life a bit slower, sees nearly 24 hours of light, and eats some of the best street food at a waterside venue called Reffen. It’s not uncommon for your teacher to run a little late or for your class time to get changed — adaptability again. The Danes have a certain appreciation of time that doesn’t call for a strict schedule but rather one that lends itself to a slower pace and is more amicable to change.

Amongst the countless things I learned this summer, one especially stands out. Adaptation isn’t just a biological phenomenon, but it’s a vital characteristic of anyone who wants to see the good in what may seem bad.

If you are even considering studying abroad, do it! This was my second study abroad program, and the academic, personal, and social benefits I’ve gained have made me a better and more well-rounded student and person. The University of Arkansas Honors College, your academic college(s), and the Office of Study Abroad are incredible resources that can help make study abroad a reality for you if you take the initiative to take advantage of them. I think this is my second study abroad blog where I’m nearly closing it off with this: in case you were wondering, the very first thing I did when I got home was eat Raising Cane’s.