Léo Becka

Please tell us about your research project.
My history PhD thesis focuses on a series of French scientific expeditions to the Arctic during the 1830s. By studying these voyages, i aim to highlight France's foreign policy concerning Northern Europe and representations of the globe during the first half of the nineteenth century.
I work under the supervision of Jean-Luc Chappey and Julien Vincent at the Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne university, in the Institut d'Histoire Moderne et Contemporaine (UMR 8066).

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?
I am honoured to be awarded the 2024-2025 research scholarship from the Chancellerie des universités de Paris. I will be residing in Oxford until December of this year.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
Oxford is an excellent place to study, owing to the Bodleian Libraries, its tranquil environment and the rich diversity of scientific events.