Iceland study abroad broadens understanding of sustainability, climate change

East Carolina University students dove into cutting-edge sustainability practices while studying abroad in Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes during a College of Education-led trip.

“This study abroad experience has been a future science teacher’s dream,” said Kate Barnes, a secondary science education major and North Carolina Teaching Fellow. “I will be able to better teach my students about the Earth, its systems, and how human and natural systems interact because of this trip.”

During the trip, students were able to take the South Coast tour with a glacier hike and view iconic waterfalls, take a dip in the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa, and explore Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik.

“Seeing Iceland’s geology firsthand allowed me to move beyond learning about earth systems from research and classes and instead experience them in action,” said McKynzie Davis, a secondary science education major and Noyce Scholar. “Walking through active rift valleys, observing retreating glaciers, visiting geothermal power plants, and exploring volcanic landscapes gives me real world examples that I can use to help students connect standards and concepts to real world examples. Putting together the field guide using other student work also gave me ideas of projects/assignments that could be used in my classroom to organize many concepts into a resource that can help students further understand each topic.”

Trips like these are important for future and current educators because they allow them to bring a depth of knowledge and first-hand experience into their classrooms. Educators also see the value of experiential learning opportunities and how they can broaden the worldview of students.

This experience highlights the value of integrating systems thinking into instruction so students can evaluate both benefits and consequences of human decisions, such as tourism, energy production, and land use,” said Andrea Mason, a candidate in the Master of Arts in Science Education. “I can use these experiences to help students move beyond isolated content knowledge and support students in developing critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of how Earth’s processes and human activities are interconnected at local and global scales.”