UW study abroad course explores sustainable food systems in Ireland and Italy

La Dolce Vita: Exploring Ireland and Italy in Search of the History and Future of Sustainable Food Systems is a 25-day study abroad program at University of Washington that will explore sustainable food systems across Ireland and Italy in autumn 2026.

Important dates to apply or learn more

• January 15, 2026 – UW Study Abroad Fair, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the HUB North Ballroom
• January 21, 2026  – Information Session, 4 – 5:30 p.m. in Raitt Hall 229
• February 15, 2026 – Deadline to apply

Photos from past years

Photos courtesy of the @uwladolcevita Instagram account

About the Program

La Dolce Vita: Exploring Ireland and Italy in Search of the History and Future of Sustainable Food Systems is an early fall start program exploring food in both Ireland and Italy. Through a mix of systems thinking, readings, dialogues, tours, and experiential learning to understand how factors, such as history, culture, policy, diet, lifestyle, trade, and market structure/economics, interact to drive sustainability across environmental, economic, health, and social outcomes.

Throughout the trip, the class will connect with local experts and scholars to discuss how the past and present role of history, policy, and food culture affect food systems and the important role food is playing in embracing a more sustainable future. The course will consider a variety of retail outlets, contrast production methods and policies in the E.U. and the U.S. and discuss what hinders and helps systems to learn from each other.

Details

Earn credits while travelling in Ireland and Italy.

• Dates: August 24, 2026 through September 17, 2026
• Term: Early fall start
• Credits: 5 credits
• Locations:
  • Ireland: Dublin, Galway, Counties Claire, Louth, and Laois;
  • Italy: Bologna, South Tuscan coast, Northern Tuscany
• Instructors:
  • Jennifer J. Otten, PhD, RD 
  • Alan Ismach, research coordinator
• Sponsored by: UW School of Public Health and UW Study Abroad

If interested, check the UW Study Abroad website (Note: Information for 2026 will be available on this site soon), attend an information session, or email Alan Ismach at ismaca@uw.edu.

December 17, 2025