Left to right: Sophomores Kaya Hidanovic, Kaitlin Krepfl and Zoe Acker visit the Eiffel Tower on a winter night in Paris. Photo courtesy of Kaya Hidanovic ’27
The British Museum, Kew Gardens and the Musée Curie Museum were just a few sites students visited on Eckerd College’s History of Science Winter Term trip to London and Paris this January.
Led by Professor of Biology Steve Denison, Ph.D., students jetted across the Atlantic to visit London for nearly three weeks, spending three of those days in Paris. Denison—who lived in London for three years and once took a sabbatical in Cambridge—created this trip to focus on the history of scientific discoveries and the scientists behind them, allowing for an immersive learning experience.
“I think seeing the places and the objects that were studied to make those discoveries is interesting, and maybe makes it more memorable,” he says.
Denison began leading this trip about two decades ago and says that, generally, each class is half-filled with science-based students and half with nonscience students. Students of various disciplines are encouraged to study abroad, whether it be for a three-week Winter Term or a full semester, to learn more in their major or broaden their perspective academically and culturally.
Students stayed in Eckerd’s London Study Centre, located right downtown near the London Underground and within walking distance of The British Museum.
By combining Denison’s familiarity with the city and its resources with the great number of scientific discoveries made in London, the trip has much to offer.
Not only did the class visit museums that focus on discoveries—like the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, where they learned about the accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928—the class also visited the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
“I think placing contemporary or nonscientific events alongside scientific events can put them into—you know—some kind of context,” Denison says, using the Versailles exhibit at the Science Museum as an example.
Students even visited Charles Darwin’s former residence after reading about him. They wandered through his old home, reading about Darwin’s voyage on the Beagle and his work in evolution before stepping outside to walk along his “thinking path” and through the gardens. Some eventually came across an open field with sheep roaming and grazing.
Kaitlin attended five West End shows during Winter Term; the entire class saw Hamilton as a group. Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Krepfl ’27
Students stop by the Borough Market, where a popular strawberry stand sells fresh strawberries doused in liquid chocolate. Photo by Kaitlin Krepfl ’27
The Spice of Life pub, a half mile from Eckerd’s London Study Centre, offers a wide selection of food and drinks along with entertainment such as live music and comedy shows. Photo by Madison DeVore ’25
“One of the main reasons that I chose to come to Eckerd is because they have a great Study Abroad Program,” says Lydia Munson, junior animal studies and psychology student from Forsyth, Georgia.
This was not her first time in London. In fact, she spent the Fall 2023 semester there, living in the same study centre. She knew she wanted to go back, and the shorter Winter Term trip fit seamlessly into her schedule.
“I really enjoyed my stay at the study centre,” she says. “I felt right at home.”
Kaitlin Krepfl—a sophomore theatre student from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was visiting London for the first time—hadn’t left the U.S. since she was 8 years old. For Kaitlin, a self-described “Harry Potter nerd” who always wanted to visit London, the class checked off a bucket-list item.
Most days were busy with class activities in the morning and early afternoon, with the rest of the day free. One weekend was completely open for students to explore the city or travel to a nearby country.
“My favorite aspect of the class was visiting museums,” Kaitlin says. “[M]y favorite thing to do in my free time was to go see shows. I saw five West End shows while I was there, for pretty cheap.”
Kaitlin found that studying outside of the classroom is a great way to learn while opening your eyes to other opportunities and becoming a more rounded person.
The Gallery of Evolution—featuring various specimens, from small insects and birds to elephants; photo by Lydia Munson ’26
Kaya Hidanovic, a sophomore musical theatre student from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, says she isn’t very “science-inclined and the idea of studying natural science through a historical and cultural lens sounded much more interesting than doing a lab course” to earn the required natural sciences credit.
This was Kaya’s first Winter Term trip and first time in London and Paris. While the study centre is a compact space, she says the building was beautiful and the staff (who cleaned the house and cooked breakfast for students) were very nice. The study centre has a common room with a TV, board games and video games for students to use. “I can’t remember the last time I played Wii Sports Resort before I stayed at the study centre,” she adds.
Her favorite aspect of the class was the personalized learning opportunities at museums, because Denison often allowed students to explore what was most interesting to them, instead of staying together the entire museum visit. This allowed her to learn at her own pace in the exhibits she found most intriguing. Not only did this trip teach students about various scientific discoveries and their importance, but it also put scientific ideas into a broader context, illustrating how discoveries can be used or misused.
“I also appreciate Denison’s efforts to make this trip a cultural experience as much as an academic one,” Kaya says. “In our free time we would go to different restaurants and pubs and also attend the theatre. As a theatre major, I was really excited to explore the theatrical side of London.”
During the free weekend, Kaya and some friends went to Dublin, which she enjoyed as well. She recommends this study abroad course to any Eckerd student wanting to explore global contributions to science while experiencing another culture.
Kaya, Zoe and Kaitlin pose as wizards before departing from London to Paris. Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Krepfl ’27
The class posing in Paris near the Jardin des Plantes and several museums; photo by Steve Denison
