BSU signs research pact with the University of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy

Relationship began with field camp in 2002

Boise State University is expanding its learning opportunities around the world.

An agreement signed Wednesday connects Boise State and the University of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy, to offer more opportunities for research and other ventures.

Chereen Langrill
The Idaho Statesman

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040506/NEWS01/405060349

The pact formalizes a relationship that began in 2002 with the start of Boise State University’s summer geology field camp in Sardinia, an island off the west coast of Italy’s mainland.

Claude Spinosa, an emeritus geosciences professor at BSU, was born in Sardinia and helped begin the field camp in 2002. Students from BSU will return to the island for the third year this month, he said.

Sardinia’s cultural history traces back to the Stone Age, Spinosa said. The mountainous island contains ruins of many civilizations, including thousands of nuraghi, small prehistoric villages dominated by conic, tower-like fortifications made of rocks. It’s an ideal setting for geology research, he said, and also presents an opportunity for BSU students to work with students from other universities.

"It’s a natural for us because geologists travel," Spinosa said. "Most of us have been all over the world looking at rocks."

Clyde J. Northrup, chair of BSU’s geosciences department, founded the field camp along with Spinosa and said the project has proven to be a unique learning opportunity for his students.

"This connects Boise State to the international science community in a direct way," Northrup said. "Our students benefit greatly from opportunities to develop a global perspective."

The agreement builds on the relationship between the two universities and will expand beyond geology, he said: "The intention is to have these exchange programs for many other disciplines."

BSU also recently signed an agreement with Asia University that will allow local students to study at the university in Tokyo.

BSU and Asia University have a 14 year partnership that includes an English as a Second Language program and an American culture program for Asia University students at the BSU campus.

The new agreement, signed on May 1, allows BSU students to spend a semester or academic year in Tokyo. Asia University students with advanced English language skills can study at BSU for an academic year.