Venice, Italy B2012
Term – B 2012
Project Opportunities – IQP
Housing – Shared student apartments
Director – Professor Fabio Carrera
Preparation – 1/2 unit preparation activity in A 2012 and some
language preparation in term D12 and in the summer of 2012.
Application Deadline – September 29, 2011 (before 1:00 pm)
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, filled with outstanding historical, artistic, and architectural heritage, Venice owes much of its uniqueness to 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 21st 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 its founding in 1988, the IQPs at the Venice Project Center 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 130+ projects completed in Venice include: in-depth studies of the Canals of Venice that resulted in the publication of a book under the auspices of UNESCO; a number of projects on the preservation of Venetian art resulting in the creation of a non-profit organization called PreserVenice; several environmental studies on the lagoon ecosystem that contributed to the creation of an online Lagoon Atlas; a groundbreaking DNA study of the origins of the Veneti, in collaboration with National Geographic, and 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 into the city’s canals. Current projects are focusing on mobile and internet technologies to allow local citizens and visitors to enjoy the city in a more intimate and personal way.
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Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses* |
Amount |
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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Travel to site (RT airfare) |
$ 800 |
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Groceries |
$ 400 |
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Dining out (7 x term) |
$ 400 |
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Weekend tourist activities & incidentals |
$ 800 |
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Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses |
$2,400 |
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Expenses included on your WPI bill* |
Amount |
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Housing, necessary boat pass and program expenses |
$3,150 |
Tuition and on-campus housing not included. |
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Estimated Total expenses |
$5,550 |
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* Subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate |
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Travel Dates:
Students arrive in Venice the Sunday before the official start of B term on campus and leave Venice the Saturday after the official end of B term on campus.
2012 dates October 21-December 15, 2012
Related Links
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: August 30, 2012 10:17:27