ICELAND RESEARCH EXPEDITION
July & August, 2022
RESEARCH IN REYKJAVIK, SOUTH ICELAND AND THE LAUGAVEGUR TREK
The research expeditions during the summer of 2022 in Iceland will focus on conducting cultural and environmental field research for our upcoming publications and the development of a mobile web-app. Researchers will travel to Iceland for 8 days of field research and then spend 2-3 months working remotely, before and after the field research, synthesizing the information to be included in the books and mobile web-app. The ultimate goal of these publications and the web-app is to provide travelers with insight into the culture and natural world they will be traveling through. This will include information on the island's geography, geology, wildlife, plants, marine life, natural resources, hiking trails, economy, historic and current culture as well as tourism and its impacts.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE #1: ANTHOLOGY OF ICELAND E-BOOK
The researchers on the cultural teams will be assisting our team in developing an Anthology of Iceland publication which will include photographic essays and narratives on Icelandic culture and their environment. This will include topics such as tourism impacts, sustainability, geothermal energy, natural resources, geology, environmental topics, cultural norms, racism, gender roles, family dynamics, immigration, police culture, crime, photography, and other creative writing pieces.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE #2: TRAIL GUIDE / FIELD GUIDE MOBILE WEB-APP & E-BOOK
Researchers will assist our team in exploring and documenting numerous hiking trails in the Reykjavik and southern region of Iceland in order to collect environmental, cultural, and trail information for the web-app we are developing. Primary research will focus on the numerous day hikes and include naturalist and cultural information to help people understand the world they are traveling through. We are looking for research assistants to help us collect information on: GIS mapping, common plants and wildlife encountered on the trails, habitats and ecosystems, geography, geology, tourism impacts, Icelandic culture, myths and legends, cultural norms, travel and trail logistics, trail descriptions, photography, video production, travel blogging and other relevant information.
WHAT YOU WILL GAIN FROM THIS RESEARCH EXPEDITION
1. You become a contributor in a publication (print or web-app).
2. Gain experience designing, researching, collecting, and synthesizing data.
3. Experience traveling abroad and immersing yourself in another culture.
4. The opportunity to participate in and complete a collaborative project with fellow researchers.
5. Build an impressive resume with job experience that will set you apart from other candidates.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
We work with each intern/researcher to set up an individualized topic of research. Working weekly with your Research Director, interns spend 10-15 hours per week for the first couple of weeks working remotely from home or school researching their assigned topic. Interns then spend 1 week conducting action research in Iceland. It is during this time interns investigate their research topic and document the findings gathered through surveys, observations, interviews, literature reviews, and photographs to include in the publication. Each research team is made up of 8-10 researchers and 2 lead researchers/instructors. Interns spend approximately 10 hours per week for the 2 months following the field research working with their research director to develop their contribution to the book. Our office team and editors provide assistance and feedback on each intern’s chapter content and grammar. Once the book is published, each contributing researcher’s name will appear on the inside front cover as well as in the back of the book with the team’s biographies and head shots.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
These internships are competitive (over 600 applicants during the first 3 months of our 2019 spring hiring season) and we encourage applicants to be yourself while also putting effort into their application. The online application is a series of short answer questions designed for our staff to get to know the candidate, their background, and their personality. Our teams are small, intimate and efficient and we look for positive and dynamic people to help us make the best publication possible. Once your application is submitted, selected candidates will be contacted for a phone interview. Upon completion of the interview, our selection committee meets once a week to determine the best candidates for each team. If a candidate is offered an internship we provide access to the team’s private expedition page with all of the information needed for the travel and research. Our team will also develop a personalized research plan for each intern research assistant. We are also more than happy to help organize internship credit through the intern’s university.
STILL CURIOUS?
Check out past intern’s videos of their research expedition to Iceland in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
POSITION DETAILS
-We are looking for students in all professions and majors. Focus areas include creative writing, investigative journalism, anthropology, wildlife, plants, marine life, natural history, tourism, geology, geography, GIS, App development, as well as students interested in the making of a documentary of the expedition.
- Action Research in Iceland (8 days of field research in July, or August during the summer of 2022)
- Mobile Research from any location (3 months/10-15 hours per week during the summer of 2022)
-Are you a student and interested in earning college credit? We will work with your university to ensure you receive 3-6 credits for your contribution to the cultural and field guide. Credits can be applied to summer or fall semester.
OBJECTIVES
1. Develop and publish a cultural anthology and a hiking guide web-app.
2. Conduct research on the local culture, hiking trails and the natural environment.
3. Develop maps, species profiles, narratives of the culture, trails descriptions, descriptions of what people can expect to encounter in the natural environment as well as any important historical and cultural sites.
4. Collect high quality photographs to include in the publications and mini-documentary of the expedition.
TRAVEL COSTS: $2,950
What’s included: The travel fee covers lodging, supplies, food, local transportation, and access to educational, natural history, and cultural centers. Basically, once we pick you up at the airport in Iceland you would not have to spend a penny unless you would like to purchase souvenirs.
What’s not included: Airfare transportation to Iceland not included. We are more than happy to help you book your flight. Flights typically start at $450 depending on your location in the U.S. We will meet you at the Keflavik airport (airport code KEF) with our company shirts on and a sign that says, “Iceland Expedition Academy.”
*We are happy to assist with scholarship applications and working with your university in order to receive credit.
Iceland Expedition Activity Descriptions
Expeditions are unlike any other field research experience on earth. The research we conduct is hands-on, relevant, and applicable to each intern’s academic and career goals. The places we explore are far beyond the realms of a standard classroom. But, what’s it like to live the experience?
DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY
After arriving at the airport and meeting with your team, today is spent acclimating to your new home abroad. Orientation is provided to your research base and surrounding area. The team spends time getting to know one another and the week’s agenda is outlined in detail.
DAYS 2 – 8: RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION TIME
Research days are absolutely PACKED to the max. Interns work collaboratively as they visit various locations around the country collecting data. Specific data collection techniques match each specific research project. For example, geographers and biologists will collect data via interviews, GPS data point collection and observational species surveys. Anthropology and cultural studies projects will focus more on participant-observations, interviews, photography and collecting film footage.
Interviews are conducted with professionals, government officials, business owners and employees, everyday citizens and local villagers. Interviews provide depth to the publication by representing as many perspectives as possible for the audience reading the publication. Interns work together throughout their time together to collect data and organize the publication.
Each evening, researchers work with their guides and directors to expand field notes, learn new field techniques, set goals for the following day and attend various research or writing-related workshops. Each day’s agenda is reviewed the prior evening and interns are held accountable daily for their field notes and progress.
WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE:
MOLLY M. | LEE UNIVERSITY
"Now being done with school and having a degree in journalism and a passion for traveling, I've been in that stage of life where I'm looking for all different kinds of opportunities to use my skills and expand them as well. I just happened upon this company and trip, and immediately was blown away at all that gets done in just a week's amount of time in the coolest places all over the world. During my time on the boat, I felt so motivated and trusted which makes a huge difference. I feel like I have the fire to write and get work done for the sailing guide professionally and I believe this will put me in the direction I want to go in with travel writing. Personally, I am so grateful to be in a welcoming environment with patience and adventure."
AMY B. | TEXAS A&M
"My experience was truly one of the best of my life. The trip gave me an incredibly valuable academic experience. I probably learned more about hands-on, geographical data collection during the 8 days with the team than I have in two years at A&M. Though I think that says more about value of quality field experience than it does about any lack of quality from university education, because universities courses are hugely valuable, but nothing can replace high quality field experience. Furthermore, I believe my experience will give me a significant edge when applying to future internships with National Geographic (fingers crossed) and graduate school.
JOSEPH B. | BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY
"This expedition was an overall amazing experience and definitely one that will stick with me forever. I felt that throughout the trip, my expectations and goals were exceeded. Academically, I was able to conduct valuable field work in regards to both geology and GIS. To be in the field collecting and analyzing samples from a remote location is valuable knowledge that will only help me and help me grow further as an individual in the field of geology. As for GIS, this was the first of GPS tracking and collecting data, so to go into the field and actually learn hands on how to do so is invaluable. I consider myself a hands on learner, so this field work helped me exceptionally and it will help me in the long run to apply these new skills to further my education. Professionally, this expedition taught me how to do real life work outside of the classroom in a group setting and individually. Instead of just doing group work in the lab, I was outside in the field tracking in a team. As well as looking at rock formations and identifying rock types as an individual. Not to mention working as a team throughout the week on the sailboat. That alone took an innumerable amount of teamwork and camaraderie to get through the week. This helped so much especially going into a setting where we were all strangers. You can’t always pick who you work with and you must adapt to the setting and what you’re given. Thankfully, the team was amazing and it was so refreshing to work with such an awesome group of people. Personally, this trip overall was an amazing experience and it was definitely an adventure that helped me grow as an individual. Constantly helping others to accomplish a common goal is something I’m used to because of always being in a team setting, but never in this capacity. Sailing and living on a boat for a week was such an amazing experience and the lessons, memories, adventures, and experience will stick with me forever. I look forward to applying these skills in the future.