ABOUT US
- CUSTOMISED COURSES
- IN-HOUSE COURSES
- LOCATION
- ICELAND
- TRAVELLING
Think at the edge
Launched in 2005 by the Reykjavik Academy in partnership with the local community around a working sheep farm situated amid the stunning scenery of Iceland’s northeast, the Svartárkot Centre for Research & Education harnesses its unique location at the edge of the habitable world to explore the dynamic relationship between culture and nature from a fresh perspective.
Courses at Svartárkot come in two main types. Harnessing the experience gained from conducting our own in-house teaching programmes, the Centre offers academics and educational institutions worldwide a ready-made opportunity to conduct courses of their own design at any location in Iceland, while utilising the expertise of the Centre’s personnel to organise them.
At the same time, the Svartárkot Centre offers a colourful range of in-house courses, each consisting of a stimulating mix of study, field trips and activities, and all designed to explore differing aspects of the culture-nature relationship in its many shapes and forms.
In 2010, we are offering eight fully credited summer courses, all intended for graduate students (MA/MSc and PhD), and each earning 10 ECTS credits. Four are located in and around Svartárkot, two in the picturesque East Fjords port of Seyðisfjörður, and two in Bjarnarfjörður, in the spectacular West Fjords.
Check the boxes below for the latest course details and updates.
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21–29 June, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 20 April, 2010 Guest Lecturer: [to be announced] |
31 July – 8 August, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 1 May, 2010 Guest Lecturer: Prof. Arthur Marotti |
11–19 August, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 1 May, 2010 Guest Lecturer: Prof. James Elkins |
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14–22 August, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 1 May, 2010 Guest Lecturer: Juhani Pallasmaa |
21–29 August, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 1 May, 2010 Guest Lecturer: Prof. Ross Dowling |
[to be announced]
More info |
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[to be announced]
More info |
2–10 June, 2010
Graduate level Credits: 10 ECTS Deadline: 1 April, 2010 Guest Lecturer: [to be announced] |
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RECENT NEWS
The Svartárkot programme for 2010
Next year we are offering nine summer courses – tree times the number from this year. Five of them are held in the Svartárkot area, two in Seyðisfjörður and two in Bjarnarfjörður. Seyðisfjörður and Bjarnarfjörður are situated by the sea in eastern and north-western Iceland respectively. Course descriptions are being prepared and will be made available over the next few weeks.
Courses Starting
The first course that Svartárkot, Culture – Nature organizes on its own started last weekend. The group includes, among others, Donald Worster, the prominent environmental historian and a number of students and scholars that are here with the support of the Network in Canadian History & Environment (NiCHE). The programme has been going very well so far and is scheduled to end next Sunday (June 28).
Special offer for Icelandic students
Due to the devaluation of the Icelandic krona we are offering Icelandic students a special discount on our courses, payable in kronas rather than US dollars. For details see the Icelandic page .
Lower prices
The deterioration of the Icelandic currency isn’t all bad. It has allowed us to lower prices for the summer courses of 2009. They are now $ 1,550 for accommodation, board etc, and tuition for graduates is $ 950 and $ 770 for undergraduates.
Donald Worster in Svartárkot
One of the pioneers of environmental history, Donald E. Worster, will appear as guest lecturer in our 2009 course Local Environments - Global Impacts .
Feedback from Edinburgh
We have now received feedback from the first group of students to visit Svartárkot. You can read some of the comments here.
Ezell comments on Writing Local Cultures
Professor Margaret Ezell, who will appear as guest lecturer in Writing Local Cultures, visited Svartárkot last summer and we have added her thoughts on the importance of the program to the course description page .
Svartárkot not affected by crisis
The current financial crisis in Iceland is not likely to have much negative effect on the Svartárkot Project. The collapse of the banks will cause some temporary problems with transferring funds between Iceland and other countries but we are told that things will be back to normal within a few weeks. The fall of the Icelandic króna in relation to the US dollar will probably result in it becoming considerably cheaper to travel to Iceland. However, it is too early to tell whether we will be able to lower our tuition prices. Icelanders are looking at difficult times ahead but our visitors need not worry.
Courses 2009
Next summer’s courses have been announced. They are:
“Iceland Geography”, “Writing Local Cultures” and “Local Environments – Global Impacts”. For descriptions and dates click the side panel.
And we’re off!
Our first group of students arrived from Scotland on 5th June. The following morning they were greeted by a lecture 'buffet' at the Reykjavik Academy and then went north to Bárðardalur by bus. This is a group of almost 30 students in Human Geography at the University of Edinburgh led by Dr. D. Howard, Dr. A. Nightingale and Dr. E. Brady. The Svartárkot Project is now officially operational.
Outlaws in Ódáðahraun
An exhibition on outlaws will open on Iceland’s national Day 17 June this summer in Bárðardalur.
M. Ezell and W. Cronon are to be guest lecturers this summer.
Two renowned international scholars have now confirmed their attendance as guest lecturers. Margaret Ezell, Professor at Texas A&M University and a leading scholar of manuscript cultures, will lecture in Writing Local Cultures and William Cronon, professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a leading environmental historian, will lecture in Local Environments, Global Impacts .
New Iceland Section
We have started a new section on this web intended to give basic information about Icelandic culture and nature. The first page is about the main 'historical' forces that have shaped the Icelandic environment. More pages will be added over the coming weeks.
Laxness in Svartárkot
The Icelandic Nobel laureate visited Svartárkot in 1948. An excerpt from his letter describing the experience has been added to the web.
Iceland Geography fully booked
The geographical program for 2008, 'Iceland Geography', is now fully booked and registration for it has ended. Enrollment in the cultural and environmental programmes continues.
Testimonials
Some participants in the 'pilot course' have sent us testimonials or references describing their experience. Click 'Testimonials' on the side-bar to view.
