Students will take four of the following six courses:
A: DLM XXX/MAT 261 Problem Solving through Mathematical Modeling
Build your curiosity as you explore London; satisfy your curiosity through mathematical modeling. Together, we will dive in to the world of publicly available data and resurface with a mathematical model that helps describe and make sense of what were initially meaningless numbers. While we will substantially build our mathematical and computational skills, we will also hone our analysis skills by interpreting our results in order to advance our understanding of challenging real-world concerns. Our experts (classmates) from different fields will provide valuable insight to background knowledge which will be essential in formulating and interpreting the model. As a team, we will use our newly developed modeling techniques to gain insight to these challenging problems. The topics we focus on will be student-led but could include public health, the physical environment, renewable energy, transportation, or societal issues. Any of these topics would specifically be explored through the British lens.
Prereq: MAT 130 or MAT 165 (or placement above) or CSC 160 or CSC 220
Taught by Dr. Ellen Swanson
B.MAT 111- Mazes, Castles, and Codes
Mathematics is engrained in the world around us, including the landscape, architecture and history. England is known for its beautiful landscape and historic castles, often surrounded by intricate mazes. We will explore these mazes and develop techniques for most efficiently moving through them. An original motivation for the creation of mazes was for safety. Castles were also designed in order to promote safety; we will examine the mathematics that explains those structural decisions. A more recent defense strategy is in the use of codes in keeping messages from the enemy. We will study the techniques of creating codes and the historical implications that occurred in England during World War II.
Taught by Dr. Ellen Swanson
C. POL 431: British Politics
An introduction to the structures, processes, and issues of the modern British political system using London as a primary resource. The class will discuss current British political issues such as political parties, electoral reform, the European Union and Brexit, devolution, and civil rights. No prerequisites. Taught by Adjunct Prof. Julianna Fuzesi.
D. DRA 341: Contemporary London Theatre
Students will study the range of contemporary London Theatre, from fringe to the major subsidized repertory companies, through a series of visits to performances and theatre sites and through lectures, readings, and discussion. Emphasis is on texts and their performances. Students who sign up for this course will be charged $195 on their spring bills to cover part of the cost of the play tickets; Centre subsidizes the other part. No prerequisites. Taught by Adjunct Prof. Steven Dykes
E. ENS 240: Alternative Energy Technology
An overview of conventional and alternative sources of energy for production of electricity and transportation fuels. This course focuses on understanding the technical principles of energy generation from fossil fuels as well as biomass, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, and wind power technologies. Each fossil-fuel alternative will be evaluated on efficiency, scalability, and life-cycle costs while considering the environmental, economic, and societal consequences. In this London edition of ENS 240, we will emphasize the UK energy sector while making comparisons to the US and EU. We will also make a few field trips to observe energy conversion in action. This course satisfies a Science and Mathematics Exploration requirement with a Sustainability tag for the general education curriculum. Open to all students with MAT 110 or higher.
Taught by Dr. Karin Young.
F. NSC 2XX : Science and the Museum
In this course, we will explore the representation of science and technology in the museums of London and the surrounding areas. We will overview how the purpose of science museums has evolved from private collections of “curiosities” through research destinations for experts to contemporary centers for public entertainment and education. During field trips to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and a potpourri of smaller museums, we will analyze the ways in which science and technology are defined and described for the public: Who is the audience? What is considered important? How are items organized, researched, and displayed? Who and what are left out? We will also compare and contrast the museum representations with how scientific researchers might define and describe the process of science. No prior knowledge of any science is expected or required.
Taught by Dr. Karin Young.
Deadlines & Requirements