University of California - Davis: Reykjavik - Thermodynamics in the Land of Fire and Ice

Because Iceland’s electrical grid is entirely powered by geothermal and hydroelectric resources, Iceland is a unique setting to learn about renewable power and thermodynamic science. Iceland also has abundant natural wonders as it sits upon an area where the tectonic plates are dividing and the land is being shaped by volcanic and glacial activity. We will stay in the outskirts of Reykjavik and will take field trips to nearby powerplants and manufacturing facilities. We will also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Þingvellir where deep fissures between the North American and European Plates are visible at the surface. At various destinations we will see puffins and other exotic birds, waterfalls, and geothermal fields. We will cross the Arctic Circle where we will have a chance to experience the midnight sun (weather permitting). We also plan to visit the glaciers at Vatnajökull National Park, the ice lagoon of Jökulsárlón and the lava flows at the Westmann Islands. Come experience an unforgettable summer on top of the world.