CUSTOMISED COURSES
- IN-HOUSE COURSES
- 2011 courses
- LOCATION
- ICELAND
- MULTIMEDIA
- ABOUT US
Think, Teach and Learn at the Edge
The Svartarkot Project was launched in 2005 by the Reykjavik Academy in partnership with the local community in Bardardalur Valley in northeast Iceland. The Svartarkot farm straddles the edge between the uninhabitable interior and lush farmland which makes for a unique location that is ideal for exploring the fragile dynamic between culture and nature.
There are three kinds of courses and activities being offered at Svartarkot, all exploring different aspects of culture/nature:
1) In House Courses: A range of courses designed to offer a stimulating mix of study, field trips for undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students.
2) Customized Courses: An opportunity for international scholars to design and conduct their own programs utilizing the Svartarkot team's expertise in planning and organizing related activities.
3) Live and Learn: Seminars and guided field trips for traveling scholars who wish to combine vacation with a deeper understanding of Icelandic culture/nature.
Courses scheduled for 2011
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Summer, 2011 |
Summer, 2011 |
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Summer, 2011 |
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Summer, 2011
[to be announced] |
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Summer, 2011
[to be announced] |
Summer, 2011
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Comments
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 Bárđardalur 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 Ódáđahraun
An exhibition on outlaws will open on Iceland’s national Day 17 June this summer in Bárđardalur.
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.
