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Good News! Study Abroad Programs are tentatively back on for Summer 2022! So, I have begun the planning for the Second Summer Session 2022. Check below for all sorts of details, I will update sections to the 2022 info as it rolls in. If you want any other info, please get in touch with me (Dr. Waite) using the links at the bottom of the page.

MODERN PHYSICS
"Modern physics" is the term usually used to refer to 20th. c. physics which includes an introductory study of quantum mechanics, atomic physics, relativity and nuclear physics. Many of the major advances in physics during the 20th c. happened in Europe and were greatly influenced by the social and political events of the times. For example, we would most definitely not have made such rapid advances in our ability to harness atomic energy if it were not for the "arms race" during the 2nd World War and our need to build the bomb before Germany. And the improvements in travel allowed for meetings of minds between the eminent scientists such as occurred at the Fifth Solvay Conference in Brussels Belgium in 1927. Seventeen of the 29 participants in this meeting went on to win the Nobel Prize. These meetings greatly enhanced the rate at which science was done during this tumultuous century.
This course is typically the first class beyond the introductory physics courses taken by physics majors and minors. Passing grades in PHY130/140 or PHY170/180 are a pre-requisite for participation in this course and program.
For this program, we will spend the first 2 weeks of the 5-week summer session at West Chester University completing the first 1/2+ of the course material and content. Then we will travel to London for the remaining 3 weeks of our course.

WHY EUROPE?
In this class we will speak at length and learn about Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford and Edwin Schrödinger, amongst others. These scientists were primarily from various European countries, and they all worked in European countries. By going to Europe as we learn about these scientists, we will gain a better understanding of who they were, what they were doing, and what were the results of their work. The scientists, and their invaluable contributions to our present understanding of physics, will become more “real” and human as opposed to “someone I once read about in some textbook.” To be successful scientists is to intimately know the work that preceded us, and to use our understanding of that work to progress further. This program/course will provide you with this opportunity for further enlightenment in the physics done during the 20th c. in Europe.
We will visit a variety of sites of interest both to the physics and engineering student (related to science and technology) as well as sites of historical and cultural interest in the broader context of the multifaceted liberal arts education we seek at West Chester University.
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Another issue that should be noted is a national initiative to more successfully prepare students in higher education for what is called "Career Readiness". In essence, this is to ensure that graduating students have attained competencies in a number of areas to better prepare them for the workforce beyond college. A key element of this is Global or Intercultural Fluency. Upon graduation, you will be working in a global environment; your colleagues, contacts, clients and co-workers will come from a broad spectrum of countries and cultures. To better prepare yourself for a successful career, it is necessary to begin to experience and meet people from different countries and cultures while you are still on college. This is an excellent opportunity to start (or continue) that experience with classmates and friends.
PHOTO ALBUMS
2011 Photos
![]() ArrivalEveryone arrives at Heathrow safely! |
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![]() TubeOn our way into the city from the airport! |
![]() The 2011 groupThe 2011 Group: Warren (& Friend), Caleb, Eric, Julia, Carolyn, Dr. Waite, Matt, Jacob and Jason. |
![]() Old busker at Hampton CourtOld busker at Hampton Court (Jacob Lawton Pic) |
![]() Carolyn and JuliaCarolyn and Julia explore London! |
![]() Warren finds the way...Warren finds the way... Jacob Lawton took this great picture! |
![]() He won't talk to Julia... #sad.He won't talk to Julia... #sad. At Hampton Court Palace |
![]() BuskerI see this guy every year when we go, outside the Bayswater Station. |
![]() Here and There!Here and There! We are in both hemispheres at the Primer Meridian. |
![]() London EyeThe group on the London Eye |
![]() Maritime MuseumReady to go up the hill to the Royal Observatory! |
![]() WestminsterJulia, Carolyn and Caleb relax on the Westminster Bridge... anyone know what time it is? |
![]() Tower BridgeTaking a break from exploring the Tower of London. |
![]() Dr. Waite at the TowerWaiting for the Ravens at the Tower |
![]() Royal GuardI crush your head! |
![]() Ravens at the Tower!Ravens at the Tower! Julia almost caught one! |
![]() BathThe River Avon flows through Bath. |
![]() Huh!Does Dr. Thornton have a side job? |
![]() Bath CathedralTouring Bath, England. Bath Cathedral. |
![]() The Queen is OUT!No flag flying... she ain't home. |
![]() StonehengeWarren waits for the rain at Stonehenge. |
![]() The TubeYou quickly get used to riding the Tube! |
![]() Break TimeJason, Caleb and Carolyn take a break in Hyde Park. |
![]() DinnerHad a good Mediterranean Meal! |
![]() ExploringExploring Hyde Park, London, England, UK! |
2014 Photos
![]() Riding the TubeAudree & Alicia |
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![]() Science!Alicia goes to the museum! (Sounds like a kids story!) |
![]() War RoomsWe visited Churchill's War Rooms & under below Westminster. |
![]() World's EndOne of the biggest pubs in London! |
![]() JouleJoule is memorialized in Westminster Abbey. |
![]() Pub Lunch!Ian enjoys a pub lunch! |
![]() Crown JewelsDan almost got arrested trying on the "hat". |
![]() RosettaWe saw the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum (this isn't the real one!) |
![]() Phil & BrandonPhil & Brandon contemplate physics... |
![]() Hampton ThronePhil and Dan in the Throne room at Hampton Court |
![]() RutherfordYou're not allowed to take pics inside Westminster Abbey... but we couldn't resist! |
![]() SherlockPrecisely Dr. Watson! |
![]() Camden MarketEnjoying the variety of foods at Camden Market. |
![]() MarketFood, clothes, stuff at the market! |
![]() ParliamentAlicia gets a good view of Parliament. |
![]() Mind the Gap!Please, Mind the Gap between the train and the platform. |
![]() BeefeaterBrenda meets a Beefeater at the Tower |
![]() Platform 9 3/4Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station, London, England |
![]() South KensingtonPhil, Ian, Dr. Waite and Cam waiting on a train... |
![]() Red BoothBrenda calls home! |
![]() Levi and RavenLevi makes a friend at the Tower of London |
![]() StonehengeYea! Stonehenge! |
![]() Holding StonehengeDr. Waite holds the stones! |
![]() The 2014 GroupF: Austin, Cam, Aaron, Dr. Waite, Brandon, Shane, Brenda. B: Joe, Mike, Alicia, Audree, Ian, Levi, Dan and Phil. |
![]() MeridianStraddling the Prime Meridian |
![]() ChinatownReady for dinner in Chinatown! |
![]() Magic!Cam and Phil cast some quantum spells! |
![]() Tube SignPhil is not making a strange face in this one... strange! (Cam is...) |
![]() Astor Quest!Ready to go in front of the Astor Quest Hostel! |
![]() BusBig Red Buses are all over the place! |
![]() DianaAt the Diana Memorial Fountain. |
![]() Ian makes a friend.Ian makes a friend in Bath! |
![]() Photo bomb!Cam photo bombs Audree & Alicia! |
![]() Abbey RoadIs this the original, or a #fake? |
2015 Photos
![]() Pub CrawlGetting ready for the Soho Pub Crawl |
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![]() Rainy LondonJared W was the only one with an umbrella on Day 1 in Hyde Park. |
![]() Diana FountainCooling our feet at the Diana Memorial Fountain |
![]() The WomenBridget, Hannah, Katlyn, Haley, Val and Brittany. |
![]() The Black Shirt Guys!A few of the men: Brett, Jared, Luke & Nick. |
![]() Big BenThe Elizabeth Tower holds Big Ben. |
![]() Eye SelfieLuke gets a selfie on the London Eye |
![]() The London EyeBeautiful Day for a view! |
![]() Pub LifeA small boy teaches the crew about London Pub life! |
![]() Mirror, mirror!This buildings mirrored curve melted cars before it was fixed! |
![]() Across the PondWell.. bath, whatever. |
![]() Roman BathsTurn left Jared... then you'll see what they're talking about! |
![]() Bath TimeJoe, Cam, Brittany and Hannah ponder giving Brett a bath! |
![]() StonehengeA few of ups enjoy the old rocks. |
![]() Hearty LaughBurhan and Brandon enjoy a healthy laugh at the rocks! |
![]() Prime MeridianEveryone always enjoys the Primer Meridian. |
![]() SelfieDr. Waite attempts a selfie at Hampton Court Palace. |
![]() Hampton MazeWE found the center of the maze at Hampton Court. |
![]() Camden MarketLook who I ran into at the Camden Market on Saturday! |
![]() Group PhotoF: Hannah, Brittany, Haley, Val, Bridget, Katlyn B: Nick Jared W., Cam, Luke, Burhan, Jared A., Brett, Mike, Joe and Brandon. |
![]() Class time!Britt, Val and Haley get kooky while studying for the final! |
![]() The 2015 GroupF: Brandon, Val B: Cam, Nick, Brett, Luke, Jared A., Katlyn, Joe, Bridget, Mike, Hannah, Jared W., Brittany and Haley (Burhan is not here). |
![]() The TubeMaking friends on the Tube form the airport to the City! |
![]() VikingsDon't be fooled... these Vikings are very scary! |
![]() TiredWell... exploring London can be exhausting! |
2018 Photos
![]() Sequoyah making friendsSequoyah making friends with the Beefeaters! |
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![]() Chinatown Meal!We had a great meal in Chinatown! |
![]() The Site of Tyburn TreeSeth found where the gallows used to be... |
![]() Sean at StonehengeSean smirks at the old rocks! |
![]() Lily and a BeefeaterLily won the Scavenger Hunt with all her pictures like this one! |
![]() Parker and a Raven!Don't let the Ravens escape the Tower Parker! |
![]() British Museum Day!A Beautiful day a the British Museum |
![]() Really Old Stones...Alec went missing for this one. Doh! |
![]() Camden MarketThey've rebuilt the Camden Marketplace |
![]() Hampton CourtReady to explore Hampton Court Palace |
![]() Sushi Night!A nice sushi dinner to expands Lilys culinary experiences! |
![]() GreenwichFinally got to the Prime Meridian in the chaos at Greenwich Observatory |
![]() Hi-jinx ensue!Hi-jinx at Hampton! Do you see Chris for up there?!!? |
![]() A Game of ThronesSo regal looking!! |
![]() Lunch at Hampton CourtSean looks on disapprovingly as Seth fills up on beef! |
![]() Exam DayOh... we had classes and exams too. |
![]() Drop The Bomb on Me!This is how they felt after the exam... like a bomb is about to drop! |
![]() Pub DinnerA nice English Pub dinner! |
![]() The Bloody Tower!the first day was at the Tower of London... great starting place! |
![]() This is NOT London Bridge!Matt & Chris check out the Thames |
![]() Big Ben.. not the clock or bell.Ben is angry at the late train |
![]() Chris rocks!Chris checks out the old rocks. |
![]() Sean and Lily at White CastleLily and Sean at the Tower |
![]() 2018 Modern Physics - LondonPictures to come! Stay Tuned! |
2019 Photos
![]() Jake and Kelsey fly to London!London, here we come! On the plane to Merry Ol' England! |
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![]() Our very first Tube trip!We took the Tube to our hostel in the Holborn neighborhood of London. |
![]() Waiting for the TubeIn fact, we got lot's of experience riding the Tube! |
![]() Max and friends on the TubeMind The Gap between the yellow line and the train! |
![]() Ryan visits Waterloo (Station)The Tube took us al over London! |
![]() At the Tower of LondonOn our second day, we visited the Tower of London. |
![]() Ryan, Jake and Max visit the TowerWe actually got some sun that day... but it went away for the first week and a half! |
![]() Bankole & a BeefeaterBankole asked to try on the hat... it was a solid No. |
![]() Rainy LondonThere's our London rain... waiting patiently to see the Cabinet War Rooms. |
![]() In the BunkersIn the War Room bunkers! |
![]() At the War RoomsSome are so serious.. . some are checking FB. |
![]() Joe is happy to get to class!We did have class a number of days... |
![]() Off to Hogwarts!But we also found time to explore London... even found the train to Hogwarts! |
![]() Calling Home!Hutty call home. |
![]() Just Chillin'Dalton call Hutty. |
![]() Ugh! No Thanks!Uh... never mind, I'll just text you. |
![]() Where's Joe!?!?Poor Josiah didn't make it to Hampton, so his classmates drew him in... such a kind bunch! |
![]() At the Center of the Maze!We all found the center of the maze at Hampton Court! |
![]() Josiah and his friends!... and Josiah made friends and sat back in Central London. |
![]() Is the Queen home?He actually did manage to hobble around and see all over the huge city... her's Buckingham Palace. |
![]() Stonehenge 2019!Uh... those are just rocks Keenan. The camera is over here! |
![]() Bankole at StonehengeBankole tried and tried to get more pics that Josiah! |
![]() Grangian_AselfieatStonehenge_20740013911It was a chilly day, but no rain at Stonehenge! |
![]() StonehengeWe got as close as we were allowed on the day before Summer Solstice! |
![]() The Roman Baths in BathThen we spend the rest of the afternoon in Bath. |
![]() Lebanese DinnerWe tried out some different types of food... here' we are in a Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant... very good! |
![]() The Royal ObservatoryWe had a great visit to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. |
![]() On the Prime MeridianAnd we all got to stand in two hemispheres at once! |
![]() On the Prime MeridianEven in the rain! |
![]() Chinatown Dinner 2019We tried a new restaurant for our annual Chinatown dinner and it was not as good this year as it was in the past... Gotta go back to the old restaurant next time! |
![]() On the London EyeWe enjoyed a flight on the London Eye to end the trip... great views of all we have seen across London! |
![]() So long, London!So long for now! A great group and trip for 2019 is in the history books now! |
2016 Photos
![]() Go Rams!No... literally, GO to London! |
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![]() The 2016 GroupF: Evan, Jamil, Dr Waite B: Nick, Chris, Amy, Josh, Charlie, Austin, Jia, Val, Peter and Zach |
![]() Our Fearless LeaderVal was a great help in 2016! |
![]() Take Off!Amy helps Chris take off! |
![]() Rainy GreenwichEven in the rain, the Royal Observatory was fun! |
![]() Ready to go!Ready to visit the Tower of London! |
![]() Hey!Peter is very excited that Chris and Jamil are seeing so many cool things... |
![]() TowerThis is where Anne Boleyn lost her heard! (Literally) |
![]() Faraday!We found Michael Faraday's house outside Hampton Court Palace. |
![]() FaradayWhat physicist doesn't want a picture where Faraday lived! |
![]() Field of GoldThis fountain ran with wine during the Field of Cloth of Gold. |
![]() Hampton Court |
![]() Rainy BathThere was more rain this year than any of the previous ones. It didn't stop us! |
![]() Bath, EnglandEnjoying the baths! |
![]() Sunny StonehengeIt was sunny in the AM for Stonehenge. |
![]() SelfieThe queen of selfies! |
![]() War RoomsJamil is NOT amused at Nick's frivolity! |
![]() Amy Rocks!Amy Rocks! |
![]() Phone HomeWe'd all get in if it didn't smell so bad in there! |
![]() Dinner anyone?Am and Val pick out a nice duck for supper... |
![]() Ready to Learn!Everyone is ready to learn in the London classroom! |
![]() Mind the Gap...... between the train and the platform. |
![]() Big Ben BurgerChris is not afraid! |
![]() Diana MemorialA nice day for a walk in Hyde Park |
![]() SaluteI made them salute me... clever, huh!?! |
CONTACT DR. WAITE
133 Merion Science Center West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383
610 436-2573