Two New Summer Abroad Programs Explore Beer and Agriculture

UC Davis Global Affairs is offering a host of summer abroad options, including two new programs: Agriculture and the Environment in Colombia, and Brewing and Beer in Germany and Belgium.

In the three-week Brewing and Beer program, students will study beer in Europe’s most iconic brewing regions. The experience includes lectures, excursions and engaging educational activities. Students will learn how beer is made, explore the history of brewing and train their palettes to appreciate the wide variety of beer styles. The group will also experience beer in its cultural context, enjoying meals and local specialties in cities including Munich, Freising, Berlin, Leuven and Brussels, while gaining a broader understanding of brewing traditions and their impact on society.

Participants will tour historic breweries, including Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery that has been around for nearly one thousand years. They’ll also visit Trappist monasteries, malt houses and hops-processing facilities. The program is led by Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences Glen Fox, who brings more than 40 years of global experience in the grain, malting and brewing industries.

“Beer is one of the world's oldest fermented beverages and it has influenced many cultures for thousands of years,” Fox said. “In Germany and Belgium, we'll visit some of the world’s most historic breweries, as well as taste beer styles that have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. We'll have behind the scenes tours, which tourists don't get. There will also be amazing food tastings, mixed with unforgettable cultural experiences. This is a chance of a lifetime.”

The program runs August 14 to September 4. Check out the website for eligibility requirements, accommodations, cost and more. 

The science and culture of agriculture

The Agriculture and the Environment in Colombia course runs from Aug. 2 through Aug. 30 and centers on climate change, food security and sustainability. Attendees will receive hands-on learning with the  Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture.

“Students will learn agriculture by doing it—side by side with farmers and researchers—while gaining a global perspective on how food systems, sustainability and communities are deeply connected,” said Xiaofei Zhang, the program leader and an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Sciences.

The immersive program dives into the science and culture of agriculture via field visits, hands-on research and collaboration with scientists on topics such as soil health, sustainability and plant breeding for crops including cassava, rice and sugarcane. 

“They will see how food, climate and livelihoods are connected across cultures and environments,” Zhang said. “The experience gives them a truly global perspective on how real agricultural solutions are built.” 

Classrooms around the world 

The two programs are among dozens that students can attend or work internships at worldwide, including Austria, Chile, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, Thailand and the United Kingdom. 

The deadline to apply for both programs is March 19. To participate in Summer Abroad programs, students must be 18 years or older, earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, have completed or in the process of completing 15 college units, be in good standing and meet specific course prerequisites or requirements.