ISU Sustainable City Tours

Mission

The ISU Sustainable City Tour seeks to learn from the most sustainable and socially responsible cities and communities across the globe. An immersive tour of a chosen sustainable city occurs two to three times throughout the year during academic breaks. Students engage with local industries, organizations, companies, and governments. Service days such as beach clean-ups, assistance with waste audits, or participating in sustainable and/or Fair Trade farming are incorporated into each tour. Students practice sustainable travel by utilizing public and alternative transportation, packing minimally and with reusables, refusing single-use plastics, and eating local foods.

• International Sustainable City Tour: Summer Break (June or July) 

  Possible city tours include: Zurich, Singapore, Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo 

• International Sustainable City Tour: Winter Break (late December or early January) or Spring Break (March)

  Possible city tours include; Reykjavik, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, various cities in Central and/or South America

Prior to each Sustainable City Tour, students must attend at least one informational meeting in preparation for travel. Culture, history, geography, and current sustainable practices in the city being visited are researched and covered during these meetings.

During most tours, reflections are led with prepared questions and thoughts from the day to encourage discussion and hear from diverse perspectives. These discussons also provide an opportunity for the students to brainstorm the challenges or path to future sustainable development in their own community.

• Open to all all undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing (3.0 GPA). Students must attend all planned activities, meetings, and events during the tour. Aside from illness, there are no excused absences. If a student is non-compliant, they will be required to depart at their own expense.

• Participants will be required to follow all site and/or University requirements including but not limited to those related to COVID 19 or other vaccinations required for international travel. For more information, visit: https://www.who.int/travel-advice/vaccines

• Travelers must have a passport at least 2 months prior to trip departure in case travel visas need to be acquired. Passport fees are not included. Passport processing times are 9-12 weeks. If you do not currently have a valid passport, please apply immediately. For more information, visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html

• It is expected that students attending a Sustainable City Tour program will pack and travel in a sustainable way. This includes packing lightly, reusable items, refusing single use plastic when possible, taking public transportation, etc. Sustainable travel advice will be provided at pre-trip meetings.