Hi everyone! We are so excited to meet all of you and embark on this epic summer adventure in Iceland—the land of ice and fire.
Our names are Graham and Lauren. We just wanted to take a minute to introduce ourselves before we all meet up at the airport in a few weeks (Graham will meet us in Iceland). You’ll also meet our Smithsonian Expert Dan Dixon in the first few days, and he has a wealth of knowledge on everything geology and climate change.
From Lauren: I am so excited to lead this trip for a second time! Iceland is truly a magical place, with some of the most welcoming and friendly people in the world. I am a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz in California, studying the behavioral ecology of humpback whales in the Antarctic. My main job is to fly drones over whales so we can measure them and get some aerial behavioral observations. I also enjoy wildlife photography, videography and video editing, birding, running, meditation, yoga, surfing, sailing, and knitting. If there are any other knitters or crocheters out there (or you want to learn!) come with an open mind, because Iceland has some excellent wool yarn and fiber-craft artists. I have a little dog named Meli at home who is my ride-or-die (she won’t be coming to Iceland, but I’ll probably show you pictures). This is my third year working with Smithsonian Student Travel. I can tell you that whether this is your first trip with us or your third, you are going to experience some life-changing landscapes and adventures. Get ready to see waterfalls, wildlife, stunning vistas, glaciers, beautiful architecture, and amazing food, and be prepared to make some lifelong friends along the way.
From Graham: I’ve been in Iceland before, during the Arctic winter, but now I’m super excited to join Lauren and our students for a dream adventure learning about the geology and history of Iceland while exploring topics related to climate change and the environment. I’m an astrobiologist and science communicator with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, and I also host a show on YouTube for NASA Astrobiology called Ask an Astrobiologist. Beyond my work, I love the outdoors, exercise, meditation, playing guitar, reading books, playing video games, and spending time with my family. As a geologist, I’m looking forward to our time in the Icelandic landscape and sharing with students about the geologic history of the land of ice and fire. From tectonism to volcanism, and glaciers to the wildlife of the island, Iceland is such a remarkable place for someone to explore our natural world and learn more about things that happen around the planet and beyond. It will be so cool to discuss topics related to climate, carbon sequestration, and our shared future in this country. I’m also a huge nerd for Norse mythology, the history of Iceland, and the ways that Icelandic culture has promoted happiness among its inhabitants. I’m excited to see the various ways that our students find themselves in Iceland—among the people and the culture, with the landscapes and the scientific ideas we explore, and with the history of this remarkable island nation.
We can’t wait to meet our students and embark on this adventure together.
Make sure to double check your packing list, reflect on what you’re hoping to get out of the trip, and remember that whatever feelings you’re experiencing, whether nervousness or excitement or a blend of both, are perfectly normal. We are not headed to Iceland to be tourists; we are travelers, and we will talk all about what that means during our first orientation. We’ve got your back, and we’re here for you.
See you all soon!
-Lauren & Graham