Contact:
Dr. Jeffery Miller, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
jdmiller@uark.edu

June 19, 2006

FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- Following a program of activities that ranged from observing a debate in the Scottish Parliament to learning livestock photography skills on a cattle and sheep farm, 27 students and staff from nine U.S. universities participated this summer in a 10-day study tour to Scotland.   

Dr. Jeff Miller, assistant professor with the University of Arkansas Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, coordinated the study program for the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) student organization.   

“It was such a pleasure to spend 10 days with students and professionals who appreciate the academic, cultural and social aspects of this trip with equal enthusiasm,” Dr. Miller said. “I won’t forget the experience nor the people in my lifetime.”   

Dr. Raymond Barclay, director of the Bumpers College Global StudiesProgram, arranged the program and venues that included visits and discussions with staff at the Scottish Agricultural College, the Scottish Farmer magazine, the Scotsman newspaper, the National Farmers Union, the Society, Religion and Technology Project with the Church of Scotland, the Festival Theatre and Plant Hunter’s Garden in Pitlochry in the Highlands. The group also had private discussions with the senior media officer with the Scottish Parliament.  

Students learned new perspectives on web design, photography, media relations and marketing. Alex Dyer with the National Museum of Scotland and a native New Zealander added a unique perspective to the program. With a portfolio of work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including the design of Dwarf Gimli’s axe and other weapons, Dyer presented a fresh approach to web design and content management systems.  

The students also had the opportunity to learn about the culture and rich history of Scotland, including a close up look at the green men and angels at Rosslyn Chapel, made famous again through Dan Brown’s best seller, The Da Vinci Code. The group also visited Stirling and Bannockburn, where William Wallace and Robert the Bruce won historic battles, respectively, over the English.         

The group included both undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Arkansas, University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University, the University of Florida, California Polytechnic State University, North Carolina State University and Kansas State University. UA students included Travis Hartley, Kerri Boling and Vicky Whittle.   

The multi-institutional program was supported in part by grants from the Association for Communication Excellence in Agricultural, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences. 

Several students also received support from their respective universities’ study abroad programs.   

Since 1996 the Bumpers College has developed educational and research links with SAC and with many other agencies, universities and private businesses in Scotland. With offices at SAC-Edinburgh, Barclay has arranged study abroad programs, research experiences and internships for students and off-campus assignments for faculty in more than 20 countries.