Venice, Italy
At A Glance
Term: B 2007
Project Opportunities: IQP
Housing: Shared student apartments
Director: Professor Fabio Carrera
Preparation: 1/2 unit preparation activity
Application Deadline: September 28, 2006 (before 1 p.m.)
Location
Called the most beautiful city in the world, Venice features a haunting atmosphere which exudes the splendor of its past. A city without cars, yet with an outstanding historical, artistic, and architectural heritage, much of its uniqueness comes from its symbiotic relationship with the sea and the lagoon. Yet, despite its millenary history, the historic city of Venice is so trying to adapt to our XXI century lifestyles, while preserving its environmental, artistic and cultural heritage. The rising cost of living in Venice has led to a dramatic exodus of its population which decreased since WWII from about 200,000 to around 60,000, while tourism has ballooned to 12 million visitors per year. Venice is a microcosm that reflects and magnifies many of the issues confronting the rest of the world, and at the same time it is a place that will allow you to experience a unique "more relaxed" pace of living.
Projects
Since the founding of the VPC in 1988, the IQPs in Venice provide an opportunity for students to see the implementation of their projects for the benefit of an entire city. Projects are conducted for Venetian, American and international organizations and include environmental, socioeconomic, artistic, cultural, and technical concerns important to the revitalization of this historic city. The over 120 projects completed in Venice include: studies on aspects of the Canals of Venice; which resulted in the publication of a book under the auspices of UNESCO; a number of projects on the preservation of Venetian art; several environmental studies on the lagoon ecosystem, which are contributing to the creation of a Lagoon Park; a variety of projects for the improvement of the urban quality of life in the city and the lagoon islands, which have resulted among other things, in the re-engineering of the Venetian cargo delivery system and the design of a vacuum sewer system to prevent discharges in the city’s canals.
Take a look at some recently completed projects...
| Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses |
$900 |
Travel to site (RT airfare) |
|---|---|---|
| Expenses Included on your WPI Bill: | + 2,750 | Housing and necessary boat pass |
| Estimated total expenses | $5,450 | (tuition and on-campus housing not included) |
Subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rate
Note:
In calculating the extra expense to participate in an off-campus project experience, compare this figure to expenses incurred while living on campus (groceries or meal plan, entertainment expenses, transportation, etc.)
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