Luke Hughes (SFS’27) is a Georgetown Storyteller and sophomore in the School of Foreign Service studying science, technology and international affairs. He is from Lake Forest, Illinois.
In the fall of last year, I met with my advisor in the Office of Global Education (OGE) to discuss my options for studying abroad. I went into our conversation hoping to choose between which city in Spain would be the best place for me to practice language skills. However, after a quick meeting, I left the Mortara Center excited about my newfound top pick: studying renewable energy and Pacific Ocean politics in Sydney, Australia. And after returning from a week-long class field trip to the Great Barrier Reef alongside seven other Hoyas, I know I made the right decision.
While writing my application to Georgetown three years ago, I included a line about how the school’s 213 study abroad opportunities for undergraduates were so appealing to me. For a school that prides itself on creating the next generation of leaders in international affairs, I was not surprised to see this variety of options for students to leave the Hilltop and learn more about the cultures, people and histories they study inside the classroom. The senior year of high school Luke is jumping for joy that I flew halfway across the Pacific and have applied my classroom knowledge into the real world.
As a science, technology, and international affairs (STIA) major, I am encouraged to explore how modern-day innovations can address the world’s most complex problems. Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate, my first course abroad at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), allowed me to deepen my understanding of ocean acidification and put into practice my knowledge of global warming and climate mitigation tactics. Fritz Lauerwald (SFS‘27), a fellow STIA major in the class, and I recalled how our introductory course for our major, Science and Technology in the Global Arena, prepared us well for conversing with our UNSW professors regarding how international bodies and treaties can best respond to the effects of climate change we studied on the island.
As part of our coral reefs class, we spent a week on Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. While in this unique course, we conducted experiments to demonstrate how warmer temperatures have affected ocean life in the critical ecosystems that are coral reefs. Throughout the rest of our time on the island, we had the opportunity to snorkel, scuba dive, walk along the reefs, stargaze and enjoy nature.
My excursion to Heron Island was the best reminder of why I chose to study abroad in Australia. I thought back to my conversation with my study abroad advisor, Hannah Benson. I told Hannah that I was looking for a program where I could spend most of my days outdoors, connect what I have learned inside classrooms on the Hilltop to my classroom abroad, and still feel the Georgetown community despite being off campus.
While I had no doubt in my mind that Hannah’s recommendation of UNSW was right for me, I am extremely grateful to say that these first few weeks in Australia have reminded me how proud I am to be a Hoya. Raising my Georgetown flag several meters underwater in the Great Barrier Reef put a smile on my face like none other.
Georgetown is a school seeking to expand its global presence, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Georgetown is also a school that educates its students about climate change and other topics that will dominate global politics in the coming decades. The university’s partnership with UNSW is a reflection of both of these values. Whether it’s spending four months in the land down under or another part of Earth, I strongly encourage each and every undergraduate student to explore the programs offered by the OGE. Make the most of your time as a Hoya.
