We can learn about horticulture from slides in a classroom, sure. But everything changes when the classroom is perhaps Rome, or the lab is a botanic garden in Scotland, and the homework might be noticing what’s growing on the hills and valleys outside the bus window. In this episode, our co-host, Curt Rom, talks with Co-Host Samson Humphrey about the value of studying abroad and how it can make the world feel bigger and smaller at the same time - something that Curt has learned not only from personal experience starting in his undergrad years and onward, but also by leading annual study abroad programs at his university.

Hear how Curt builds his study abroad trips from the ground up: setting learning objectives, choosing sites, holding regular pre-departure prep sessions, pacing days so students can absorb what they see, and balancing “great gardens” with real production horticulture. In addition, Curt talks about some of the human sides of study abroad: the day-three slump, the culture shock that turns into self-awareness, and more. In the end, you will hear a practical case for why studying abroad grows better observers, better collaborators, and more confident young professionals.

If you’ve ever wanted to study abroad, build international connections, or just understand how horticulture looks beyond your home region, this conversation is your roadmap.

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Learn more about the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) at https://ashs.org/.
HortTechnology, HortScience and the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science are all open-access and peer-reviewed journals, published by the American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS). Find them at journals.ashs.org.

Consider becoming an ASHS member at https://ashs.org/page/Becomeamember!

You can also find the official webpage for Plants, People, Science at ashs.org/plantspeoplesciencepodcast, and we encourage you to send us feedback or suggestions at https://ashs.org/webinarpodcastsuggestion.

Podcast transcripts are available at https://plantspeoplescience.buzzsprout.com.

On LinkedIn find Sam Humphrey at linkedin.com/in/samson-humphrey. Curt Rom is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/curt-rom-611085134/. Lena Wilson is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-wilson-2531a5141/.

Thank you for listening!

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