Category: Applied Economics and Statistics
Explore the depths of sustainability in a new study abroad program in Patagonia
February 27, 2025 Written by Katie Peikes | Photos coursey of Kent Messer
At the base of South America, Patagonia spans nearly 400,000 square miles covering much of Argentina and Chile. About 2 million people inhabit the region which is home to vast, unique and otherworldly beautiful scenery. Among them, snow-capped mountains, volcanoes, glaciers and dazzling blue lakes dot the landscapes.
In a first-of-its-kind University of Delaware study abroad program for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kent Messer, S. Hallock du Pont Professor of Applied Economics, will teach students Sustainable Development (APEC100) in Winter 2026.
“It’s going to be a life transforming experience,” said Messer, a professor in the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics. “It’s an incredible way to see firsthand the challenges of sustainability in a breathtaking landscape with incredible people, food and experiences.”
Sustainable development encompasses evaluating environmental and societal issues and conceptualizing solutions to improve those problems. Messer said Patagonia is an ideal region to study sustainability because not only is it beautiful and diverse, but students will encounter numerous sustainability challenges such as poverty, natural resource management, and how governments, nonprofits and people try to balance human welfare, environmental protection, and they’ll have to consider the ethical implications.
During the three-week program, students will venture across Chile and Patagonia. They’ll walk the bustling streets of Santiago and marvel at colorful murals in Valparaiso. Students will meet members of indigenous communities rich with heritage and even get up close to Magellanic penguins (maybe even for a penguin selfie). Each student will choose a sustainability challenge in Patagonia and create a short video explanation.
“My No. 1 objective is for my students to develop the skills to think critically about sustainable development — no matter the context.” Messer said. “Sustainability applies to providing clean water, protecting forests, mining critical materials, and respecting indigenous people and rights. This course helps students develop the fundamental structure for understanding the role of private versus public goods, while appreciating how insights from natural science interact with potential policy and engineering solutions in a manner that can lead to cost-effective solutions.”
Messer will lead up to 20 students in this engaging study abroad program, including environmental and resource economics majors. Messer and his faculty colleagues train students to examine and understand relationships between producer and consumer decisions, environmental conditions, climate change, and resource availability in our changing world. Students work to answer key questions that help them identify sustainable solutions for global challenges facing society.
APEC 100 is typically more lecture-based. But bringing the three-credit course to Patagonia gives it a fresh look with a change in scenery. Not only is Messer excited to engage with students on a more personal level, but the program also fills a gap by giving UD environmental and resource economics majors a relevant program for their field of study.
“Right now, if our majors want to study abroad, they often have to do it through a program for an unrelated major,” Messer said. “We want a program that our majors can take advantage of.”
Already took APEC 100? No problem! Messer will offer an advanced sustainable development course that takes a deeper dive into how Chile’s history has impacted natural resource management over time, so that more students can take advantage of the winter study abroad experience.
Although the program takes a deep dive into sustainability, it is open to all students, regardless of their major.
“You don’t have to know Spanish. You don’t have to know economics to go,” Messer said. “We really start from scratch and we bring you up to speed through the course.”
The deadline to apply for this transformative study abroad program in Patagonia and Chile is April 20, 2025. Learn more on the Sustainable Development in Chile and Patagonia study abroad program page.
About study abroad at the University of Delaware
In 1923, UD founded the first study abroad program by a U.S. institution. Today, UD offers 100+ programs in about 40 countries—and more than 30 percent of UD undergraduate students study abroad at least once!
Choose from semester-long programs in the fall and spring semester, and shorter programs during winter and summer. While abroad, you’ll take a full load of academic credits, choose to engage in internships or community service, and sharpen your language and intercultural skills.