International Field Program in Italy
Following their fall-semester Vehicular Dynamics course, a group of 12 students from a variety of majors—physics, engineering, chemistry, biology, and computer science—traveled with physics professor Dr. Jonathan Langton and Resident Counselor Kemi Awosile on the winter-break Italy International Field Experience program. During the 10-day trip, students explored the connection between Italian culture and design philosophy for high-performance Italian automobiles and motorcycles.
The learning journey began in Florence with visits to museums. One focused on design work by Leonardo da Vinci; at another, Galileo Galilei’s scientific discoveries provided historical context for the group’s study. Continuing to Bologna, students toured the Ferrari and Lamborghini Museums to get a close-up view of all that goes into combining state-of-the-art technology with the beautiful styling the companies are known for all over the world.
Segueing into motorcycles, the group visited the Ducati Museum, where they also toured the factory, and the Fisica in Moto (Physics in Motion) interactive physics laboratory. A visit to the Fonderia Ghirlandina, manufacturers of metal castings for hydraulics and power transmission systems, offered insight about machines used in agriculture and earth-moving.
Faculty and graduate students at the University of Florence hosted the group one day, explaining experiments in the European Laboratory of Non-linear Spectroscopy on topics ranging from optics to biophysics to the behavior of quantum gases. “We also saw the Laboratory of Nuclear Techniques for Environment and Cultural Heritage, which applies physics to the study of artwork and cultural artifacts,” Dr. Langton says. “We heard how they analyze the composition of pigments in a painting or use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of an artifact to high precision.”
Students also had a chance to get some hands-on experience when learning modules on teamwork and marketing led to active collaboration. “A highlight of the teamwork module occurred at the Ferrari Museum,” Langton explains, “where students worked in small groups to change the tires of a retired Ferrari Formula One race car. Our fastest pit crew changed a tire in 5.54 seconds!”
The trip wasn’t all factory tours and science, though. Students enjoyed a mountain hike near Bologna, a road trip to San Marino and Cervia, and, of course, more than a few servings of pasta and gelato! They also attended the Christian Science church in Florence (in Italian and English), and were invited to a member’s home for a traditional Bolognese dinner. “Quite frankly, I tasted the best mozzarella cheese I’ve ever had,” Langton says.
Other Principia students recently traveled to—or are packing their bags for—the following international destinations: Greece, Turkey, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Mexico, Trinidad, Ireland, England, Iceland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Nepal, India, and Malawi. Learn more about our study abroad and international field programs.