Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Trip Enriches International Students’ Spring Experience
On March 21, 2025, the College of Education hosted an enriching excursion for international graduate students to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. This educational trip, held from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, was made possible through the generous support of Dr. Iliana Reyes, Dean of Students, and the International Student Network Initiative. The museum, widely regarded as one of the top natural history institutions in the country, offered students a unique opportunity to engage directly with the Sonoran Desert’s diverse ecosystems through its primarily outdoor exhibits.
A total of ten graduate students from countries including Ghana, China, Colombia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, and India participated in the experience. Accompanied by Dr. Reyes and members of the Outreach Committee, the students explored native desert flora and fauna, observed animals in their natural habitats, and learned about environmental science in an immersive setting. The group particularly enjoyed the museum’s Raptor Free Flight program, where birds of prey such as hawks and owls demonstrated their flight and hunting behaviors in an open-air presentation. The Live Animal Show further enhanced their understanding of desert wildlife, showcasing reptiles, mammals, and insects native to the region.
The students also visited the museum’s Cactus Garden, where they observed towering saguaro cacti and other resilient desert plants. This experience deepened their appreciation for plant adaptations and the cultural importance of desert flora. Stops at the aquarium, desert-themed art gallery, and the animatronic “Dino on the Desert” exhibit rounded out the visit, giving students a holistic view of the region’s natural and cultural richness.
For many of the international students, this excursion was not only educational but also mentally refreshing. It encouraged them to think about innovative ways to incorporate environmental topics into their future classrooms and fostered a stronger sense of connection to the Tucson community. The trip highlighted the College of Education’s commitment to inclusive, experiential learning that extends beyond the classroom and supports the academic and personal growth of its global student body.