Indigenous Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Social Change in Rural Nepal - Spring Break

nicolerh — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:37:15 +0000

Currently Unavailable

Nepal

Program Director(s):

Ramesh Balayar, Read more about Dr. Balayar here: Program Director Deep Dive- Dr. Ramesh Balayar

Program dates are tentative and subject to change

Hear from last year’s students! Read the story from CALS news service “A study abroad trip like no other”. about last year’s trip to Nepal!

This study abroad program is part of ISU’s Nepal Learning Lab, which is funded by the U.S. State Department.

Our study abroad program to NEPAL will give students the ability to understand the linkages between climate change, indigenous farming systems, and U.S. development agencies as it relates to: South Asian food security and international trade, co-existence of indigenous knowledge and Western technology adoption, rural human capital and infrastructure challenges, and community social systems related to gender and caste. Will offer firsthand knowledge about the everyday struggles of smallholder farmers, mostly women and the feminization of agriculture.

We will visit small villages and meet with indigenous farmers in two areas of Nepal. The first is the lowlands of Chitwan in the south, where we will also do a jungle safari. The second is in the mountain areas of Kaski in north, where we will also spend 4 days hiking to Mardi Himal base camp (watch a YouTube video). We will also explore Doha, Qatar during our flight layover.

3 credits Soc 4110 during spring semester

This program was last offered in 2024 and 2025.

Important Note Regarding Missing Classes
Please note that participation on some travel courses require you to be away from campus for some school days. The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences tries to minimize the number of days missed for this purpose, but in some events, the inflexibility of the travel schedule prevents us from working completely within our breaks. Should you choose to enroll in a travel course that requires missing some class(es) on campus, you will need to contact your instructor directly to inquire whether or not arrangements can be made to make up this class work and/or exams. The CALS �� office can provide you with a letter explaining the dates of the trip. However, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to determine the potential impact on your grade before signing up for a �� program. The instructor is responsible for determining the impact of any absence from class.

Friday, March 14, 2025 to Sunday, March 30, 2025

Department:

Sociology

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Friday, November 1, 2024

Semester:

Spring

Learn More!

Year:

2025

Program Director Deep Dive- Dr. Ramesh Balayar

nicolerh — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 20:37:10 +0000

I never thought that I would eventually end up being at Iowa State University teaching or advising students...but I feel that I am here for a purpose to motivate students not only to be successful academically but also to become global citizens.

As a Nepal native and socio-economic community development practitioner, Dr. Ramesh Balayar has a deep understanding of the value that the region has to offer students both academically and personally. He hopes that Exploring Ecosystem Services and Subsistence Farming Activities in Rural Nepal exposes students to the challenges that smallholder farmers, particularly women, face each day when met with issues such as climate change and how that has contributed significantly to the collapse of their operations and livelihood.

Dr. Balayar recalls his upbringing in a very remote village in western Nepal as extremely harsh. Good schools and good teachers were difficult to come by in such a village, and he had to drop out twice when going through middle school and high school before eventually making it to college. His five siblings experienced the same hardships, making Dr. Balayar the only one to finish his schooling and make it as far as he has in his career.

“That’s why I’m so passionate about being in education. I never thought that I would eventually end up being at Iowa State University teaching or advising students...but I feel that I am here for a purpose to motivate students not only to be successful academically but also to become global citizens. Perhaps these are the reasons I sometimes feel frustrated when students don’t come to class, don’t pay attention to class activities, don’t ask questions, or don’t take their education seriously... I came from such a difficult background and worked so hard to achieve an education, which made me realize the sheer importance of education... I am increasingly realizing that there’s no other field that could make me more joyful than being in education and encouraging young people.” -Dr. Ramesh Balayar

When taking on his role as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Academic Faculty Advisor at Iowa State University, Dr. Balayar had no idea that many students here in the United States also face struggles when it comes to completing their education. Although they may be under slightly different circumstances, he validated that college presents obstacles for everyone and knew that it was an area where he could step in as an advocate.

The longing to return to Nepal has always been there for Dr. Balayar. Connecting back to his home is constantly on his mind, which was why he chose to obtain many of his degrees and conduct much of his research in Nepal and based on Nepali people. With the help of Dr. David Peters and Jodi Cornell, Dr. Balayar recognized the ability he had with the resources surrounding him to make his vision of connecting Iowan students to his home country a reality.

Both faculty advisors wanted to ensure that students were going to receive a comprehensive and authentic experience when traveling to Nepal that encompassed everything from the heritage and cultural value of the region to interactions with village farmers to the gorgeous landscapes and wildlife. They have done just that by building out an itinerary that travels between Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara. Dr. Balayar is hopeful that this program will provide a life-changing experience for students, opening their eyes to agriculture on a global scale and the challenges that developing countries face.
When Dr. Ramesh Balayar isn’t preparing for his travels later this Spring, he can be found writing and publishing poetry in Nepali and his local, native dialect. Many of these poems center around nature, humanity, and his upbringing, which Dr. Balayar finds to be very healing to write.

Tags:

Ramesh Balayar

Nepal

program director

Author(s):

Logan Schmitt

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Indigenous Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Social Change in Rural Nepal - Spring Break

Program Director Deep Dive- Dr. Ramesh Balayar

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