Barrett Honors College summer study abroad in Iceland gives students unique opportunities

The sounds of Iceland fascinated Brandon Ligon while on a summer study abroad experience with Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University last May.

“My favorite experience was sitting on a cool moisture-covered rock in Reykjavik's forest, listening to the birds, how their calls echoed throughout the lush vegetation,” said Ligon, a music composition and creative writing major who participated in the honors college’s 2024 “Barrett in Iceland” Global Intensive Experiences program.

Ligon, who graduated ASU in May with honors from Barrett and stayed on at the university to work on a master’s degree in acoustic ecology, said he was baffled by what sounded like synthesizer tones, but later discovered the mysterious sound was the winnowing of the snipe, a bird common in Iceland.

In addition to soaking in natural sounds, Ligon met fascinating people, including a well-known Icelandic composer, an environmental scholar, and sound researchers.

“These opportunities would not have happened had I not taken the chance to ask Iceland's residents for their stories, how they connect with their country's sounds. I learned that the place one inhabits shapes one's worldview and experiences, such as how the sound of traffic changes in the winter as residents add spikes to their vehicles' tires for snow tread, or how a snipe's winnowing marks the arrival of spring. People connect with place, even if they claim to be unaware of this connection; in turn, their culture and behaviors, including what people listen to, are marvelously shaped by their environment,” Ligon said.

The 2024 honors study abroad in Iceland featured a course titled “Environmental Humanities in the Land of Fire and Ice” where students studied the ways in which humans have impacted Iceland’s environment and how the country’s environment has impacted Icelandic culture, said Barrett Associate Teaching Professor J.R. O’Neill, who led the program.

Students also learned about reforestation, the challenges to restoring Iceland’s woodlands and the country’s use of geothermal energy. Daytrips included a tour of the so-called Golden Circle where students visited Þingvellir National Park, a rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, Geysir Geothermal Park, home of Strokkur geyser and boiling mud pots, and Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s largest and most majestic waterfalls.

Students got to taste the tomato soup made from the fruit grown in greenhouses lit and heated by geothermal energy at Friðheimar. They also visited the volcanically-active Reykjanes Peninsula, the site of the recent volcanic eruptions at Fagradalsfjall, and other natural wonders.

The 2025 Barrett summer study abroad program in Iceland will be May 13-21. It will feature a visit to the Golden Circle and Reykjanes Peninsula, with the addition of a tour of Iceland’s dramatic South Coast where program participants will see waterfalls, glaciers, and the famous black sand beach at Reynisfjara. The course, “Environmental Humanities in the Land of Fire and Ice” again will be offered.

Applications for the program are now open and will close on January 31, 2025. Information, participant eligibility requirements, and an application are here.

In addition to the program in Iceland, Barrett Honors College offers study abroad opportunities in several countries, including France, Germany, Portugal, Morocco, Italy and Switzerland. More information is here.

“I definitely encourage considering Barrett study abroad programs. As an honors student, there are more funding opportunities available specifically for studying abroad, and when combined with other scholarships, the staggering costs become affordable,” Ligon said.

“There is no substitute for studying abroad. I recommend applying for interesting programs and taking time to submit to scholarships, as the effort pays off, and the memories last a lifetime.” 

Alexandra Roselle, a sophomore honors student majoring in aerospace engineering (astronautics), echoes those sentiments.

“I highly encourage it, it is a great way to get credits, especially honors credits. It was just so much fun and I would definitely do it again. I got to experience the world, make new friends, try new things, and overall just had a great time,” said Roselle, who participated in the Iceland program last May.     

“The whole trip was an amazing experience and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Iceland. I got to meet people from all different cultural backgrounds and nations during this trip. I interacted with Icelandic, Dutch, English, French, German, Swedish, and Japanese people to name a few. We also had some fantastic tour guides as well who did a great job showing off Iceland and everything it has to offer,” she said.

Shaela Patel, a Barrett sophomore studying conservation biology and ecology, said she got to apply her interests and knowledge of the environment, sustainability, and conservation to her travel experience in Iceland.

“I think that the study abroad experience truly changes your perspective on the world, and allows you to approach learning in a whole new way. It made me excited to learn. I grew so much personally and have made great friends that I continue to speak to. It was such a fun trip that I will never forget!”

Alexis Phillips, an anthropology major in Barrett, was mostly struck by the Islandic landscape and the experiences shared with friends.

“The most remarkable aspect was the landscape and how people had adapted to such a volcanically active environment.  Using geothermal energy to provide heat and electricity was astounding and may prove helpful in other volcanically active environments,” she said.

“I made many new friends and allowed myself to get out of my comfort zone and try new things.  While my legs prevented me from walking too far, my friends and the connections I made helped me through the rugged terrain.  Also, I got to lie down in the crater of a volcano. Who can say that about a trip?”

Hailey Jimenez, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major, said Iceland is unlike anyplace she’s ever been.

“Iceland is a place like no other. For one its absolutely beautiful. Secondly, it’s one of those places that encourages you to think about things you don’t typically think of. For example, obviously people have an impact on the environment, but have you ever thought of it reversed? How does the environment affect people? Iceland has a very rich history with the Vikings who settled Reykjavik and going there it is seen to this day. The diet, the lifestyle, the way they consume energy, it’s all built around the climate,” she said.

“I think everyone should do a summer study abroad with Barrett. First off, it’s shorter and when you have no classes, so it allows you to fully submerge yourself in the current studies of the program and be in the moment. You’ll learn so much about yourself and you only live once so get out there and see the world,” Jimenez added.