For two Purdue University students, a study abroad program in London offered far more than an opportunity to travel abroad. Through visits to universities, water utilities, emergency response organizations and cultural landmarks, Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) students Ella Meyer and Michael Keller gained firsthand insight into how another country approaches some of today's most pressing environmental challenges.

The short-term program focused on water infrastructure, sustainability and emergency response in one of the world's largest and most complex cities. Along the way, students connected classroom concepts to real-world applications while building relationships with peers and professionals from around the globe.

For Meyer, one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was the people she met along the way.

"My favorite part of the trip was getting to know everyone in our tour group," said Meyer. "It was so great to make new friends across environmental, civil and mechanical engineering disciplines."

She also enjoyed visiting Imperial College London, where Purdue students met with doctoral researchers and learned about ongoing projects in environmental engineering and related fields.

"It was so cool to get to talk to Ph.D. students there and learn about their research," she said. "The differences in British and American universities were also so interesting to discuss with the students."

Keller echoed the value of those connections, noting that some of the most meaningful interactions came through conversations with fellow students and professionals.

"My favorite part of the trip was getting to meet all of these interesting people," said Keller. "It was very cool to meet students at Imperial College London and talk to them about their research about fire."

He added that the experience led to unexpected friendships.

"I find it very funny that it took me having to travel almost halfway around the world to become friends with people that I never had had the chance to talk to at Purdue."

Beyond the academic exchanges, students explored how London manages critical infrastructure and public safety for a population of more than nine million people. Through tours of water treatment facilities and discussions with industry experts, they examined how cities address challenges such as water quality, climate resilience and emergency preparedness.

Meyer said the experience expanded her understanding of environmental issues by exposing her to different approaches to the same challenges.

"I learned a lot about water systems and what kinds of water issues big cities like London experience," she said. "While similar, we have different approaches and it really gave me a new perspective on how to approach problems."

Keller found a similar takeaway.

"I learned a lot about a different set of perspectives on how to approach complex issues," he said. "It is very interesting how we all are trying to solve the same set of issues but can have very different ways of trying to solve them."

One of Keller's favorite experiences was a visit with the London Fire Brigade, where students met firefighters, learned about emergency response operations and even participated in a hands-on demonstration.

"The highlight of the visit for me was at the end when they did a demonstration and allowed all of us to use their firehoses to spray their training tower," he said.

Both students chose the London program because it offered an opportunity to experience study abroad while engaging deeply with topics connected to their academic interests.

Meyer was drawn to the program's focus on water infrastructure and emergency response, as well as the chance to meet other students within her major. Keller appreciated the shorter program format and the opportunity to explore how cities address environmental challenges in a changing climate.

The lessons learned abroad have continued to influence their studies back on campus.

Meyer said seeing water treatment systems and utilities in operation helped bridge the gap between theory and practice.

"This trip also gave me a hands-on experience with topics I was learning in class like water treatment processes and utilities," she said. "I was able to come back after spring break and really connect what I was learning to how environmental issues are processed and dealt with in real time."

For Keller, the experience reinforced the importance of international collaboration when addressing environmental challenges.

"Most environmental issues are felt by people all around the world, especially concerning climate change, and it is important to collaborate and share ideas," he said. "No one person or group is going to be able to solve these monumental challenges on their own, so it is important that we are able to work together and help each other."

Outside of scheduled program activities, both students immersed themselves in London's culture. Meyer enjoyed exploring the city's museums, diverse food scene and public transit system, while Keller appreciated experiencing the energy and scale of a global city.

From touring the British Museum and National Gallery to navigating the iconic London Underground, students saw firsthand how engineering, history and culture intersect in one of the world's most influential cities.

For Meyer and Keller, the study abroad experience ultimately delivered something more lasting than memories of a new destination. It provided a broader perspective on environmental engineering and a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration in solving global challenges.

As future engineers, both returned to Purdue with new insights, new friendships and a renewed understanding that environmental issues extend far beyond geographic boundaries—making global perspectives more important than ever.