Randolph psychology professor teaches on Semester at Sea

Rick Barnes has an interesting classroom this summer: the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, and spots in Spain, Portugal, Finland, and other locations in Europe.

Barnes, a Randolph psychology and environmental studies professor, is teaching for Semester at Sea, a program that brings faculty from many colleges together to provide a unique educational experience at sea. Barnes first taught on the Semester at Sea program four years ago and is excited to have the opportunity again.

“We have maintained contact with our friends from UVA who were on the first voyage, and so I jumped at the invitation to sail with them again this summer,” Barnes said. “My voyage in 2010 was such an intense, challenging experience, and the current voyage is going to countries I have always wanted to visit.”

His wife, Tina Barnes, Randolph’s coordinator of disability services and the Learning Strategies Program, is joining him for this journey. They are documenting the voyage on a blog at ricktinasemsea2014.blogspot.com

Barnes is teaching two classes on the ship this summer: Introduction to Social Psychology and The Challenge of Sustainability: Sustainable Lifestyles.

He is looking forward to several stops along the way where he can learn about approaches European communities have taken toward sustainability. “We will visit the Hammarby Sjostad development in Stockholm and will meet with city planners in Helsinki to learn about their green infrastructure and their strategic plan for coping with climate change,” Barnes said.

As the MV Explorer approached Spain recently, Barnes added that he also was looking forward to a two-day stop in Ireland to learn about the roots of Irish music.