Exploring Global Challenges and Solutions in Panama (HGLO397) offers students a hands-on opportunity to explore how communities and organizations in Panama are tackling urgent global issues. Through immersive travel, students will examine how sustainable development, public health, indigenous advocacy, and biodiversity conservation intersect with Panama’s rich history and evolving role in global politics.

Highlights include visits with humanitarian and non-governmental organizations based at the Ciudad del Saber, as well as meetings with partners such as Fundación Probidsida. Through these site visits, students will gain insight into advocacy, development, and policy-making in Panama and the broader Latin American region.

Students will also explore the legacy and contemporary role of the Panama Canal and critically examine U.S.-Panama relations. A cultural visit to the Emberá Indigenous community offers insight into indigenous knowledge, identity, and resilience in the face of globalization.

Pre-departure seminars provide students with a foundation in Panamanian history, environmental sustainability, and data science analysis, preparing them for a meaningful and reflective experience abroad. No prior knowledge of Spanish or data science is required. Additional components include tours of key historical and cultural landmarks such as the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo. 

Save the Date:
The program will take place in Panama from March 14 to March 22, 2026.

Scholarship:

Make sure to review the process for the Gillman Scholarship. Even if you do not receive the full amount, you are guaranteed $500.00.  (If you apply for the Gilman and work with NSO, we’ll guarantee you at least $500—no matter the outcome. More information about the Gilman Guarantee here.)

Academic Updates/Notes:

• HGLO397 has been approved for the following engineering minor programs:

  • Global Engineering Leadership Minor: Approved Global Perspectives Elective

  • STEP Minor/STS Program: Approved Elective

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of Panamanian history, politics, and U.S.-Panama relations, including the role of the Panama Canal in shaping national identity, trade, and diplomacy.

• Analyze global challenges such as food distribution, climate change, or public health through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their implementation in Panama.

• Apply data science tools to interpret and communicate findings in both Panamanian and U.S. contexts.

• Critically evaluate indigenous perspectives and cultural resilience, particularly through firsthand engagement with the Emberá community, in the context of globalization and development.

• Explore Panama’s biodiversity and sustainability efforts, including the environmental significance of areas like the Darién Gap and the role of scientific institutions such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

• Reflect on and adapt to cultural differences, developing cross-cultural communication skills and demonstrating an understanding of how social identity influences perspectives and access to resources.

• Explain how culture, politics, and social structures shape development policies and community outcomes in both Panama and the United States.

• Engage ethically and respectfully in intercultural experiences, demonstrating awareness of positionality, privilege, and global citizenship.