Program brings science students to USU from Brazil
Breitner Marczewski, Fabricio Nogueira, Jardel Cocconi and Georgia Kosmala came to USU through Brazil Science Without Borders, a program sponsored by the Brazilian government, allowing students to study at an American university for either a semester or a year.
“We just received our first group of four students, but we might be receiving more for spring semester,” said Carlos Munoz, coordinator of International Student Recruitment. “This is a brand-new program.”
Munoz said the program allows students to experience culture and education in another country.
“When you come from a different country, you have a different view on how things are approached,” he said. “I think if kids come here and see the different approach on science, they can go home and apply it.”
Munoz said the program also benefits the university culturally and economically.
“It helps President Albrecht and the university to continue with internationalization of campus and curriculum,” he said.
Munoz said while the program is beneficial, the selection process isn’t easy.
“Not everyone who applies is selected,” he said.
Munoz said once the students arrive, they are treated and act like any student.
“Just like any student here, they already have picked a bachelor’s degree,” Munoz said.
Breitner Marczewski, a senior majoring in renewable energy, is a Brazilian student who came to USU through the Science Without Borders program. Marczewski said he applied for the program because he wanted to get a cultural as well as academic education.
“I have always dreamed to study abroad because it can expand your mind for the problems and solutions over the world,” Marczewski said.
Although he didn’t get to choose where to go, Marczewski said he likes it in Utah.
“Here you have a beautiful nature, like the mountains and the parks,” Marczewski said. “I am learning a lot being here and I have some ideas to bring home and try to improve my city.”
Another student in the program is Jardel Cocconi, a senior majoring in environmental engineering. Cocconi said he heard about the program from someone in the international office at his school and decided to apply because of the scholarship opportunity.
“It’s a good scholarship,” Cocconi said. “Plus, I only got one more year of undergrad school, so I’d take it or just go with graduation next year.”
Cocconi said coming to America wasn’t a complete shock because he lived in Santa Barbara, Calif., for a year and a half before moving to Caxias do Sul, Brazil. However, he said coming to Utah wasn’t easy for him.
“Like Brazil, cultures vary a lot from state to state,” Cocconi said. “There’s not much to do on weekends and there’s no ocean near. I used to go surfing every weekend.”
Cocconi said his family is excited about his experience at Utah State.
“They share the enthusiasm with me and tell me to enjoy the most of it,” he said.
Georgia Kosmala, a senior majoring in biology with an emphasis in biodiversity and ecology, is another of the program’s students at USU.
Kosmala said she got permission to come to USU from Edmund Brodie, a biology professor, so she could work in his lab. She said she met Brodie at a congress and talked to him about studying under him after. She then applied for the program so she could be involved in the type of research he did.
“I met (Brodie) in a congress I attended, and I was amazed by his work and research,” Kosmala said. “He is such an amazing scientist and works with something I would hardly have the chance to work with in Brazil, which only made me more excited about being a part of it. Being involved in such a strong, competent and interesting group of researchers with such interesting projects is truly a great advantage in my professional curriculum.”
Kosmala said USU is different from the universities in Brazil, but there are many good things here.
“In Brazil, we have a lot of contact with the American music, movies, and somewhat of the culture, so I feel like I knew a good deal already,” she said. “Also, I had some friends that lived in the US, and they told me a lot in a way of getting me prepared for life here, but every day is a learning process.”
Kosmala said overall, she likes USU.
“The people here are very friendly and helpful, even more than back home,” Kosmala said. “It was a nice surprise.”
– katelinch@gmail.com