From black sand beaches to smelly bubbling mud pits, 12 students from the Faculty of Science were able to experience all the natural wonders of Iceland. Led by professor Ali Polat and geochemistry technician Melissa Price from the School of the Environment, and accompanied by chemistry professor Phil Dutton and Lisa Sylvestre, the group spent 10 days in the country.

Some of the highlights of their experience included the Kirkjufell waterfall — a filming location for the television series Game of Thrones, seeing a volcano cinder cone, horseback riding in the Westfjords region, and experiencing hot springs and geysers.

Simona Brezeanu, a first-year biomedical student, found the trip to be incredibly eye-opening: “This trip truly impacted me and expanded my interest in science to a field completely different from my undergraduate program.”

During their time in Iceland the students completed field work projects that involved learning about differential weathering and rock formation timing using angular unconformities, mapping out riverbeds and a section of a geothermal beach, and learning about early settlers in Iceland at the Museum of Jon Sigurdsson in Hrafnseyri.

Third-year biological sciences major Mohamed Elbreki recommends the trip to future students.

“This program offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in different cultures and gain a global perspective that is invaluable in today’s interconnected world,” he says. “The experience also helps develop essential skills such as adaptability, resilience, and effective communication.”

Students received scholarships from the University of Windsor’s Go Global STEPs program to participate in this opportunity. Go Global STEPs is a Global Skills Opportunity project that is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and administered jointly by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.

To see more pictures from this trip, check out the School of the Environment’s Instagram page: @soe.uwindsor.