PHYS 1205 - Supervised Study Abroad: Big Science in Twenty-First Century Europe

FDR: Science, Math, Computer Science (SC)
Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
Credits: 4

Though the United States has often been at the forefront of big science since the middle of the twentieth century, there are indications that this may be changing. In this course, we will learn about particle physics and gravitational wave astronomy as we travel to two of the premier “Big Science” sites in Europe: the large hadron collider at CERN in Geneva and the VIRGO gravitational wave detector in Tuscany. While in Europe, we will also examine the question of how twenty-first century science is able to thrive in centuries-old European societies.

Note(s): Appropriate for non-science majors.