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Welcome to Kansas State University's
Study of the U.S. Institute on Environmental Stewardship


Kansas State University (K-State) Engineering Extension was thrilled to host the
2013-2015 Summer Institutes for European Student Leaders on Environmental Stewardship.  
Check out what we did each July on our Story Map!
K-State’s Engineering Extension developed an intensive program designed to provide the international students a keen understanding of environmental stewardship, community service, and American culture.  

The goal is to ensure students gain not only an appreciation of the complexities involved in environmental issues facing our world today, but also a willingness to put their newly-gained knowledge and understanding to practical use, both in decisions they may make as future leaders in their home countries and in community service projects that benefit the communities in which they live and the environment upon which they depend.

The program focused on immersion: numerous field trips were conducted to electric power plants fueled by coal and nuclear energy as well as facilities with solar and wind energy technologies.  We also met with Kansas leaders to determine how environmental policy and regulations are selected and enacted.  Similarly, there were included field trips to various outdoor research facilities where environmental data are collected to provide the scientific foundation for such decisions.  Interspersed among the field trips, classroom topics provided at least a basic introduction various environmental issues.

During the entire session, students worked on their own project in order to fully understand the issues related to environmental stewardship.  Many of the field trips also included community service projects, so the students gain an awareness of the extreme importance of organizations that provide such services. Boredom is not an option!  Among other activities, they attended a fireworks show for the 4th of July, a Kansas City Royals baseball game, took a canoe trip down the Big Blue river, participated in a K-State ropes challenge course, and had a pizza and movie night at Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo.

 


Kansas State University

Kansas State University was founded in 1858 as Bluemont Central College.

By 1863, Bluemont Central College had become Kansas State Agricultural College, the first fully operational land-grant college in America, and the first agricultural college in the US to admit women.

In 2013, K-State celebrated its 150th anniversary. With more than 24,000 students from all 50 US states and more than 100 countries, the year-long celebration covered the history of of the university and sets the stage for the next 150 years. The more than 475 student organizations serving students in 250+ undergraduate majors and options, 22 graduate certificates, 65 master's degrees, and 45 doctoral degrees keep campus an active place all year.