Venice, Italy B'10

At A Glance

Term – B 2010

Project Opportunities – IQP

Housing – Shared student apartments

Director – Professor Fabio Carrera

Preparation – 1/2 unit preparation activity in A 2010 and some prep work expected over the summer of 2010.

Application Deadline – October 1, 2009 (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, 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 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 over 120 projects completed in Venice include: studies on aspects 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 a Lagoon Atlas; 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.

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

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.
Travel to site (RT airfare)	$ 900
Groceries	$ 400
Dining out (7 x term)	$ 400
Weekend tourist activities & incidentals	$ 800
Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses	$2,500
Expenses included on your WPI bill*	*Amount*
Housing, necessary boat pass and program expenses	$2,950	*Tuition and on-campus housing not included.*
Estimated Total expenses	$5,450
* Subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate

Travel Dates:

Arrive on site: Sunday, October 24, 2010
Depart site: Saturday, December 18, 2010

Housing is provided beginning and ending on the dates above. Students who plan to arrive earlier or stay later will need to make their own accomodation arrangements outside of those dates.

Venice, Italy B'10

At A Glance

LOCATION

PROJECTS

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses*

Amount

Expenses included on your WPI bill*

Amount

Estimated Total expenses

$5,450

Travel Dates:

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