The ISP, or Independent Study Project, is written by students from the undergraduate programs of SIT Study Abroad and relates to a program theme. Using primary sources students choose topics with a manageable focus that can be carried out in a variety of settings, such as schools, nongovernmental organizations or field research stations. During the independent study period students work closely with a project advisor and other key contacts in the field. The ISP is typically a 20- to 40-page paper presented to student colleagues, the academic director and, often, the advisor and other interested host-country individuals.
Copyright permissions have been obtained by all contributors to this collection.
Submissions from 2024
Structural Responses to Land Use in Pollination Networks: Effects of Biodiversity and Alien Plants in the Ecuadorian Chocó, Eric Abrahams, Washington University in St. Louis
Career Readiness: A Study of Vietnamese University Students' Views on Post-Graduation Prospects, Tobias Amstutz, George Washington University
Darija's Dilemma in Defining Moroccan Identity, Amina Anshasi, University of San Francisco
Navigating Intersectional Identities: Mental Health Challenges and Accessibility to Mental Health Care among Sub-Saharan Migrant Women in Morocco, Soraya Babahaji, The University of Tulsa
Complementariedad en la comuna de Putre: reflexiones sobre el sistema de salud y los conocimientos comunitarios aymaras, Grace Benish, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Early report of a microcosm of the fourth major global bleaching event: A comprehensive survey of coral bleaching at Chumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar, Christian Boudreaux, The University of Mississippi
“It’s a no brainer”: Ensuring just transitions in Iceland’s fishing industry, Olivia Bowers, Wesleyan University
Mushroom Composition Across an Elevational Gradient During the 2024 Wet Season in Mazumbai Forest Reserve, Tanzania, Christopher Brady, University of Redlands
On Puar’s “Right to Maim”: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence as an Instrument of Debility, Jeffrey Camille, Washington University in St. Louis
The Efficacy of the Legal Infrastructure of Proportionality in Contemporary Armed Conflicts, Reed Caney, Washington University in St. Louis
Sovereign Seeds: Analyzing the Sustainability of Peasant Seeds in the Context of Climate Change and Rural Exodus in Tunisia, Alice Carlson, Occidental College
Impact of NATO Enlargement on Eastern Europe Security: Case Study of Ukraine War, Heeyoung Chae, Denison University
“¡Que se vayan todos!”: La crisis socioeconómica de Argentina en diciembre de 2001 y el papel del Fondo Monetario Internacional en su desarrollo / “Down with them All!”: Argentina’s December 2001 Socioeconomic Crisis and the Role of the International Monetary Fund in its Development, Romita Chattaraj, Georgetown University
Is Asia on the Precipice of a Currency Crisis? Exploring Regional Risks and Implications On The Global Economy, Hannah Deng, Yale University
La crisis contemporánea y los cuidados: respuesta gubernamental al trabajo de cuidado feminizado y la pandemia / The Contemporary Crisis and Care: Government Response to Feminized Care Work and the Pandemic, Iris Diez, Smith College
The Impact of Neurological Diseases in Kisumu, Kenya: Case Studies at JOOTRH and KCRH, Jack F. Dunham, Amherst College
The Increase of Allergies in Developed Countries: A Comparison of the Quality of Life and Psychosocial Burden of Individuals with Food Allergies in Switzerland and the United States of America, Adrienne Ell, University of Connecticut
Diaspora As a Cultural Hearth: A Case Study of the Amazigh in Morocco, Maximo Ellis, Swarthmore College
Lisbon’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Fleet: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Mass Adoption of EVs in Lisbon by 2050, Maya Estrera, Swarthmore College
From Collaboration to Continuity: Exploring Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainable Global Health Partnerships, Annabelle Falconer, Tulane University
An Ecological Analysis of the Elevational Gradient Effect on Mushroom Community Diversity near Andasibe, Madagascar, Zoe Garver, Oberlin College
Assessing the Progress and Effects of Exotic Plant Invasions in a Sustainably Used Littoral Forest Fragment in Southeastern Madagascar, Grant Gerhardt, Kenyon College
Beyond Blood: Informal Adoption and Family Dynamics in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Examining the social, traditional, and family values associated with informal adoption, Elizabeth Greenberg, Colby College
Los Determinantes Sociales y el Acceso a la Salud de las Mujeres Migrantes: Desde la Perspectiva de las Usuarias y los Trabajadores de Salud, Vanessa Gutiérrez, Scripps College
A Study of Anthropogenic Impacts on Echinoderms in the Jambiani Intertidal Area, Zanzibar, Amaury O. Halley, Middlebury College
Empowering Environmental Education in Portuguese Primary Schools: Energy Focused Curriculum Recommendations and Behavioral Change Framework Guided by Principles of Developmental Psychology, Ellie Hanson, University of Puget Sound
Short-term larval surveys reveal rainy season breeding site preferences of malaria vector Anopheles spp. in Zanzibar City, Kaeden K. Hill, Duke University
What soil is worth: A cost-benefit framework analysis of syntropic farming, Aubrey Kettley, University of Puget Sound
Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Harbor Seals: Haul-out Patterns in Iceland using CMIP6 projections, Colin Lau, University of Washington
Overseas Vietnamese, diaspora, transnational relationships, homeland engagement, cultural identity, development, Amanda Le, Rice University
Impacts of Gas Flaring on Soil Quality in the Ecuadorian Amazon: Measuring gas flare effects on soils at comparative distances in Loma del Tigre, Orellana, Francesca LoPresti, Macalester College
White-Fronted Capuchins (Cebus albifrons aequatorialis) in La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve: A Study of Aggressive Behaviors in Response to Human Presence, Marin Lynch, Franklin & Marshall College
Assessing the impacts of anthropogenic activities on coral reef health in Ushongo, Tanzania using coral diversity and parrotfish abundance as indicators, Thao Mai, Colgate University
Nutri-Score, Warning Signs, and Facts Up Front – In Theory and In Practice A Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Front-of-Package Labeling Systems, Muskaan Makkar, University of South Carolina
¿Fiesta o Protesta? La Marcha del Orgullo en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires en los inicios de la era de Milei Party or Protest? / The City of Buenos Aires Pride March in the Beginnings of the Milei Era, Ella McDaniel, Smith College
Role-playing and Rentierism: Rethinking Morocco’s Approach to Migration Diplomacy with the EU, Mia McGrath, Hamilton College
Addressing Water Scarcity in Rural Areas of the Souss-Massa Region of Morocco: Comparative Analysis of Desalination, Fog Harvesting, and Wastewater Treatment Methods with Considerations of Technical Viability and Human Rights, Lina Migliore, Vanderbilt University
Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Young Jordanian Women on their Second-Class Citizenship, Umulkair Mohamed, Bowdoin College
The role of geomorphological context in vegetative succession within the Breiðamerkurjökull glacial foreland, Lucas Nerbonne, Middlebury College
How can Morocco’s crisis management and disaster response be optimized? Lessons from the Al Haouz earthquake response, Clara Normand, University of Denver
Unveiling Colonial Legacies: Women’s Marginalization through the Lens of Coffee Cultivation in Northern Angola, Posi Oluwakuyide, Washington and Lee University
The Association Between Mental Health Disorders and Glycemic Control in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes, Marcella Pietrzyk, University of Wisconsin-Madison
A Comparative Analysis of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Initiatives and HIV Needs, Evi Ratner, Mount Holyoke College
Feasibility study of coral farming in southwest Madagascar: In-situ and ex-situ approaches, Raquel Reis, Harvard University
“Njangi never dies”: The Social Impacts and Non-Financial Benefits of Njangis in Batoufam and Yaoundé, Cameroon, Georgia Schaefer-Brown, Dickinson College
Uncovering Chimborazo’s Catchments: Insights into the fluvial network, stream characteristics, and hydrological patterns in Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo, Ecuador, Julia L. Schwartz, Pomona College
The Impact of Jordan’s Peacebuilding Efforts in Gaza on its Domestic Politics, Nina Sretenović, University of Richmond
Socioecological Assessment of Birds in Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve, Eli Taub, Pomona College
Rock Hyrax: A study of hyrax energy budget and behavior near Randilen Wildlife Management Area, Tanzania, Alice Thompson, University of Vermont
Postsecundaria Caso de Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso Vertical en la Construcción de la Memoria Política, Anastacia L. Tremper, Georgetown University
Investigating Ocean Carbonate System Changes Across Latitudes in the North Atlantic Basin with a Time-series Mooring System, Anna Trujillo, University of Colorado Boulder
Solar Energy Adoption in Unguja, Tanzania: Influence of Awareness, Socioeconomics, and Technology Knowledge, Maxime Warnery, Middlebury College
Exploring the Medicalization of Menstruation: Analyzing Menstrual Hygiene Initiatives by IGOs, Non-Profits and National Government in Switzerland, Victoria Wright, Washington University in St. Louis
Independent Study Project: The impact of digitization and payment on Community Health Promoter (CHP) motivation and effectiveness in a peri-urban community in Kisumu, Kenya., Fiona Yohannes, Amherst College
Submissions from 2023
A Multi-Factorial Analysis of the Sustainability of Non-Governmental Organizations’ Psychosocial Support Programs in Jordan, Dina Abdalla, Washington University in St. Louis
Analyzing Human - Nonhuman Primate Conflict Mitigation Techniques in Mto wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania, Lily Adams, University of Denver
A Transition Point: The Role of the Global Power Shift in Facilitating Saudi Internal Reforms, Aidan Aguilar, Columbia University
Existir y Sobrevivir: El prejuicio que enfrentan los inmigrantes venezolanos en la quinta región de Chile., Daisy Alcantar, Macalester College
The Truth Behind Avocado Expansion in the Algarve: A Synthesis of Public, Environmental Associations, and Government Perspectives and Response, Mandy Ausman, University of Puget Sound
Minimum Exchange Rate and A Negative Interest Rate: The Swiss National Bank’s Unconventional Monetary Policy during Eurozone Volatility, Wally Bargeron, Claremont McKenna College
Litio en una Encrucijada: Voces locales sobre la reforma constitucional del gobernador Morales y su impacto en el futuro de la minería en Jujuy / Lithium at a Crossroads: Local voices on Governor Morales’ constitutional reform and its impact on the future of mining in Jujuy, Maxwell Bassin, Georgetown University
Pop Spirituality in the Context of Nepal, Kalinda Benson, Skidmore College
Desapariciones de Migrantes en la Frontera: Un Análisis de Factores Influyentes, Reyna Krystal Blakeman, University of Oregon
Understanding invasive predation: detections of feral cats (Felis catus) on Kangaroo Island’s Western River Refuge, Leah Boget, College of William and Mary
Rocky intertidal community structure along an upwelling gradient between Playa Venao and Nueva Gorgona on Panama’s Pacific coast, Claire Brady, Claremont McKenna College
Always Sunny in Zanzibar: Exploring Solar Power on the Island, Quinn Brannan, Carleton College
Neoliberalismo y La Mar: Los Efectos del Sistema Neoliberal y la Pesca Artesanal de Caleta Portales, Isaac Bronfine, University of Washington
Fauna as Fieldworkers: An analysis on the use of animals as a form of organic weed and pest management in modern viticulture, Mariana del Carmen Campano
Estudiantes Mapuche Universitarios: El Desarrollo de Conciencia Crítica Dentro La Sistema de Neoliberalismo Multicultural, Silvia Carias-Centeno, Kenyon College
Belonging and Identity in Mustang: Lived Experiences, Social Identities, and Mobility Patterns among Himalayan Peoples of Nepal, Lauren Carter, University of Richmond
Building a Society of Trust: Innovation and the Future of Youth Employment in Jordan, Pierre Cativiela, Williams College
Intergenerational Change in HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma in Cato Manor, MiJin Cho, Virginia Commonwealth University
Inside the Wave: How “The 100 Foot Wave” Changed the Lives of the Local community in Nazaré, Emilie Cohen, Lehigh University
Exploring the Role LO Plays in Preparing South African Learners for Life After Matric: A Case Study in Cato Manor, Peter Cohen, Washington University in St. Louis
Impact of wildlife provisioning on species diversity, relative frequency, and richness in New South Wales, Alanah Cohen-Tigör, Vassar College
Black Morocco On the Margins: A Societal Manifestation of Xenophobia, Anti-Blackness in Islam, and the Lasting Impact of Colonialism, Sydney Coleman, Vanderbilt University
Exploring Inclusive Education Policy Implementation in Langa, Cape Town Through the Perspectives of Educators at Just Grace, Caroline Connelly, Kenyon College
The Uses and Limitations of Citizen Science for Monitoring the Australian Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus) Population, Leah Corckran, Smith College
The State of Transgender and Kinnar Communities in Delhi: Case Studies Connecting Socioeconomic Factors to Health, Ray Craig, Swarthmore College
Soil succession: Short and long-term impacts of grazing on soil properties in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest, June Curtis, Oberlin College
Perspectives on Psychosis from Dharmashala’s Tibetan Community in Exile, Teddy Daniel, Brown University
Lo Nuestro: Turismo y la Revalorización de la Cultura Kichwa Karanki en la Parroquia de Angochagua, Daltin Danser, The New School
The Global Anxiety Crisis in Teenagers and a Proposed School-Based Preventative Intervention Plan Focusing on Building Resilience in Children, Lia Darling, University of Vermont
Gentrifying while Black: Exploring the Concept of an African Homeland through Gentrification in Accra, Ghana, Amaya Davis, Kenyon College
Grabbing the Paycheck: A Glimpse into the Modern Economic Livelihoods of Xe Máy Grab Drivers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Maddie Davis, University of Puget Sound
Friends in High Places: Establishing pollination networks for the Páramos of Central Ecuador, Emma Diaz, Washington University in St. Louis
Entre Punzones y Percutores Reconstrucción de tecnología ósea de los Selk'nam (Tierra del Fuego), Rachel Dietz, Knox College
“Without water, nothing”: Examining the water saving practices of women in Amman under periodic water supply, Rory Dixon, Georgetown University
Understory Epiphyte Hydrology: Analyzing water storage capacity of epiphytes along an elevational gradient in western Ecuadorian cloud forest, Angelina Dodge, Macalester College
“Mira cómo tejemos”: La construcción de una red comunitaria y la educación ambiental en la organización Frente Insular de la Reserva Marina de Galápagos, Katie Draeger, Bowdoin College
Bryophyta sensu stricto presence and function in the epiphytic ecosystems of the tropical montane cloud forests of El Valle de Anton, Teaghan Duff, Oberlin College
Surveillance Systems in Western Kenya: Methods, Perceptions, and Effectiveness, Marissa Duffy, Hamilton College
Tropical tree carbon storage at Drago Dos Forest in Boca Del Drago, Panama, Ben Dwyer, University of Richmond
Therapy Approaches Provided to Traumatized Refugee Children, Esther Ekeh, Gettysburg College
Investigating the detriment of development assistance: A geopolitical analysis of Sino-Djibouti relations through the lens of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Elizabeth Elenwo-Roger, Spelman College
An Exploratory Study into Empowering Grade 10 and 11 Learners through Critical Engagement with South African Literature: A Case Study in Cato Manor, Sally Fales, Washington University in St. Louis
Ecological living in Nepali Food Systems: A Synthesis of Circular Nutrient and Knowledge Flows in the Kathmandu Valley, Kaitlyn Feely, Cornell University
Universal Health Coverage: A Basis for Pandemic Preparedness?, Merline Feero, Bowdoin College
Intelligence Versus Inferno: How Artificial Intelligence Can Be Used to Monitor and Manage Wildfires in Europe, Maxwell Feldman, Claremont McKenna College