Alexandra Davis ’18

Part of what drew me to Smith were the many opportunities the college provides for international study. I spent my junior spring in Copenhagen, Denmark, studying renewable energy technology and exploring the urban design techniques climate-adapting cities use for extreme weather events. I learned about the great potential of wind power while climbing a 164-foot-tall wind turbine off the Danish coast. By living like a Dane, I gained a better understanding of what makes large-scale sustainability possible, learned why bikes are the transport of choice for so many Danes, and saw how city planners integrate climate-resilience into parks, roads and public areas. Copenhagen taught me that when sustainability is seamlessly incorporated into everyday life—when it is made convenient and citizens do not have to actively think about doing the eco-conscious thing—people will adopt behaviors that are in the environment's best interest.

“Part of what drew me to Smith were the many opportunities the college provides for international study.”