Exploring Hidden Gems in STEM Abroad: Top Student Destinations
Why STEM Learning Belongs Abroad
It’s quite often that students imagine studying STEM as strictly memorizing formulas, solving equations, and applying theories. However, the true heart of STEM really comes alive when students are able to step out into the world and see with their own eyes how innovation, discovery, and problem-solving have shaped human history.
By traveling to the very places where science has evolved, students gain a global perspective on how the things they study in the classroom can have a meaningful impact on the world. With an ACIS STEM-focused tour, they’ll have an immersive experience that puts them in contact with scientific leaders around the world.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Florence – An Overview of the Infamous Polymath
No exploration of STEM abroad would be complete without visiting Florence, the hubspot of the Renaissance and home to the infamous Leondardo da Vinci. At the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence, students can see detailed models of his inventions from flying machines, hydraulic pumps, cranes, and early versions of armored vehicles. These models, built from Leonardo’s original sketches, showcase his unparalleled ability to blend art, engineering, and design thinking.
The museum’s interactive exhibits help students understand how creativity drives innovation. Leonardo’s habit of observing nature from seeing how birds flew, how water flowed, and how muscles moved all helped him make the basis of his designs. This connection between observation and invention is at the heart of modern engineering and product design.
For students, walking through Florence provides a living classroom. Behemoths such as the mathematical proportions of Brunelleschi’s Dome, the artistic geometry of Botticelli’s paintings, and the harmonious balance between beauty and function that defined the Renaissance. Leonardo’s legacy reminds us that STEM and the arts are not separate pursuits, but they are two sides of the same coin.
CERN, Switzerland – The Birthplace of Particle Physics Discoveries
Few places capture the imagination of scientists and students alike as much as CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, located just outside Geneva. Known as the birthplace of particle physics discoveries, CERN is home to the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Spanning 17 miles beneath the French-Swiss border, the LHC smashes protons together at near-light speeds, allowing physicists to study the smallest building blocks of the universe. It was here in 2012 that researchers confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, a discovery that explains how fundamental particles acquire mass which is essential for the formation of atoms, molecules, and all complex structures in the universe.
For students, visiting CERN isn’t just about seeing the massive machinery, it’s about witnessing the intersection of physics, engineering, and global collaboration. Thousands of scientists and engineers from over 100 countries work together here, demonstrating how innovation transcends nationality or backgrounds, just like the act of traveling itself.
Tours of CERN’s facilities allow students to explore particle detectors, instruments that identify the unique properties of particles such as their charge and momentum. Interactive exhibits like Discover CERN, Quantum World and Our Universe explain particle acceleration, quantum mechanics and the evolution of the universe respectively.
Discover STEM in Switzerland and Germany
Greenwich Observatory, London – Home of the Prime Meridian
Perched on top of a hill overlooking the River Thames, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich was founded in 1675 by King James II and became the birthplace of modern astronomy and navigation. It’s here that time and space were literally mapped out for the modern world. The Prime Meridian, also known as 0 degrees longitude runs through its courtyard, making the line that divides the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
The story of Greenwich is also one of technological ingenuity. The Marine Chronometers developed by clockmaker John Harrison were able to help navigators at sea determine their position with precision. This breakthrough transformed exploration, trade, and communication. A perfect example of how engineering innovation can change the world.
Students visiting Greenwich can stand with one foot in each hemisphere, observe how time zones are determined, and see firsthand how the synchronization of locks and celestial observations shaped global navigation. It’s a living classroom where geography meets astronomy and where the abstract concept of time becomes something you can literally stand on.
Other STEM Gems
CERN, Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, and the Greenwich Observatory are only just the start of STEM highlights abroad! Here are other destinations which can also bring science to life around the globe that to consider exploring:
- Cite des Sciences et de I’lndustire, Paris: Europe’s largest science museum, offering immersive exhibits on physics, biology, and technology such as a planetarium, IMAX theater, and the Argonaute submarine. ACIS is excited to feature this museum as part of our new Sustainability in Northern France itinerary!
- NEMO Science Museum, Amsterdam: The largest museum in the Netherlands, housed in a humongous green ship-shaped building designed by Renzo Piano. It is known for its highly interactive, hands-on exhibits that make chemistry, physics, and engineering fun for all ages along with permanent exhibitions and live performances.
- Mikaikan, Tokyo: A national museum focused on the future of science and robotics, featuring highly interactive exhibits on robotics, space, and the environment. It discusses currently developing science and technology and employs trained staff to help visitors understand complex topics. One exhibit it contains is a display called the Geo-Cosmos which shows off a real-time view of Earth using satellite data, highlighting global issues and changes.
With an ACIS STEM tour abroad, the science classroom will come to life like never before! Discover the ACIS Difference with our custom travel brochure for STEM educators.
Eric Kim
