Iceland

Volcanology Field Camp

Four Credits

July 8 – 29, 2027

Application Deadline: December 30, 2026

Registration

Contact nuri.uzunlar@sdsmt.edu to be waitlisted.

contact

PROGRAM DETAILS

Course

Volcanology Field Camp

Credits

Four Semester Credits

Dates

July 8-29, 2027

Location

Iceland

Start

July 8, 2027

End

July 29, 2027

Cost (undergraduate)

$5,995

Cost (graduate)

$6,795

Deposit

$300 is due at registration

Application Deadline

December 30, 2026

Enrollment Cap

Limited to 16 students

Camping

Mostly camping

Cost:

$5,995 four credits, undergraduate and $6,795 graduate. Cost includes tuition, fees, food, lodging and daily transportation to the sites. Deposit: $300 (required upon registration) Cost does not include airfare to Reykjavik . Airfare from US to Reykjavik ranges between $600 and $1200 USD depending on starting point. Registration on a rolling basis until filled. Course limit is 16. Additional registrants will be waitlisted.

Iceland is a volcanic wonderland. This course in volcanology will explore Iceland from the south coast where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge comes ashore to the highlands near the focus of the Iceland mantle plume. Subjects that will be considered include: basaltic and rhyolitic lava flows, tephra characterization, phreatomagmatic features, subglacial volcanism, volcano monitoring and geothermal power. Projects will be conducted on active volcanic systems, in Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcanic fields, and in the Tertiary volcanic stratigraphy exposed in glacial valleys and fjords of Iceland.

Course Information:

Prerequisites: Mineralogy, and petrology required; stratigraphy, structural geology, and volcanology helpful but not required. Exceptions will be considered upon request.

Physical demands:

Field work will involve working off-trail in rugged terrain, and may include several hikes of considerable length. Students should be both physically prepared and comfortable with steep terrain.

Climate:

Iceland weather is highly unpredictable, but is cool and mild in the summer with typical highs in 50’s (F) and lows in the 40’s. Late summer weather is relatively good, but periods of rain and high winds are not unusual.

Facilities:

Lodging for most of the program will be tent camping in developed campgrounds. Several days of office work (compilation and and report-writing) will be based out of hotels/hostels with basic accommodations. The first and last nights of the program will be spent in Reykjavik. Students will need to supply their own camping equipment, tent (or arrangement to share), sleeping bag, and pad, as well as a basic “mess kit”.

Other required equipment:

Basic geology tools including hammer
Hand lens
Write-in-the-rain notebook
Map case
Color pencils I recommend these inexpensive ones (box of 72). Click Here .
Brunton compass (or equivalent)
GPS unit (Note: the latter two items can generally be borrowed from student’s home institutions; in special cases these can be borrowed from the camp)
Students will need a laptop computers to complete reports.
Suitable clothing for working in cool wet conditions including waterproof breathable coa
Rain pants
Fleece layers
Good rugged hiking boots
Appropriate socks

A complete equipment list will be provided for participants ahead of the camp.

Application and deposit of $300 online. BHNSFS reserves the right to cancel the camp if the minimum enrollment is not reached. The full deposit will be refunded in this case, and applicants will be notified via email by March 15, 2027.