For most students, studying abroad presents an opportunity to expand and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the world. It’s a time to see different places and cultures, broaden perspectives, and become better global citizens. For a select group of students, it’s also a chance to take their research to the next level.

The Nanovic Sustainability Fellowship allows students to conduct funded, independent research on a sustainability topic of their choice during their study abroad semester, diving deeply into the unique approaches taken by their host site. It is funded by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and supported by Notre Dame Global and the Notre Dame Office of Sustainability. This spring, two students were chosen to carry out environmental research during their semester abroad in Galway.

Josh Williams, a junior pursuing majors in business analytics and applied and computational math and statistics, will be investigating renewable fuels, specifically biofuels, in Galway. Galway presents a unique opportunity to advance his research for a few reasons. The first being that the University of Glaways has a dedicated biofuels research laboratory— the Innovative Energy Technologies for Biofuels, Bioenergy and a Sustainable Irish Bioeconomy lab (IETSBIO3)—resulting in an existing network of experienced biofuels professionals. The second reason is found in the thriving sheep and beef industry in Galway.

“Because animal fats from sheep and cows can be processed into biofuels, being close to this industry in Galway could offer opportunities to see how local agricultural resources contribute to or hinder biofuels production in Ireland,” Josh shared in his application for the fellowship.

Through independent research, working with professionals in the IETSBIO3 lab, and connecting with sheep farmers and meat processors in Galway, Josh plans to better understand the county’s relationship with biofuels and the potential benefits and barriers to its production.

Elise Wollemborg, a junior majoring in neuroscience and behavior as well as theology, will also be spending her time in Ireland as a sustainability fellow. She will be investigating the sustainability effects of Ireland’s unique shift to a healthcare system that is more community-focused and home-based. Recognizing the many ways a hospital produces waste and uses up energy—from hazardous waste production to construction and maintenance of facilities to single-use plastics—she hypothesizes that a transition away from a clinically-based healthcare system will show a reduction in terms of negative environmental impact. She also plans to explore the environmental implications of home-health-based medical recommendations, such as an increase in holistic care and vegetarian diets.

Adding another layer to her research, Elise will also be looking into the role of religion in encouraging this shift. She shared in her application, “Religious healthcare tends to follow a more holistic approach, and in alignment with the Nanovic Institute’s research priorities of Human Dignity and Faith and Religion in Europe, I am interested to see how such a religious influence may in turn show an environmental effect.” Due to the historically close ties between the Catholic Church and Irish government, she states that it’s “plausible to conclude that religion still plays an active role in terms of government-based healthcare decisions.”

While in Galway, Elise will work with local medical professionals, healthcare recipients, and University of Galway professors to better understand their thoughts on the shift and its environmental implications.

During their semesters abroad conducting research, Josh and Elise are provided with mentorship from Nanovic research staff and will engage in monthly check-ins with the entire Fellows cohort to discuss progress and shared challenges. They will also be connected with the staff at Notre Dame Kylemore, who support students studying abroad at the University of Galway. When Josh and Elise return to campus in the fall, they will present their cross-cultural sustainability insights and publish their work online.

Through advancing their knowledge on a sustainability topic and gaining research experience in a low-stakes environment with built-in support, the Nanovic Sustainability Fellowship offers these students an exciting chance to make a difference in the climate crisis—both at home and around the globe.

Originally published by Jessie Carson at kylemore.nd.edu on February 05, 2025.