Summer internship takes environmental science major to geothermal wonderland

M ost internships are pretty cool. They give students hands-on experience and a chance to see if a career field really suits them.

Senior John Hollis in Iceland. But John Hollis' three-part internship was much more than that.

It was an adventure. A real expedition-trekking past hot springs; vast fields of spikey purple flowers, forests of towering pines, barren ravines, rocky-cliff beaches and spectacular waterfalls. He even visited the volcanic eruption site that caused the town of Grindavík to be evacuated in Nov. 2023.

Grindavík, Iceland, that is.

Hollis is a junior environmental science major from Flowery Branch, Georgia. He transferred to Georgia College & State University in 2022 because he heard of the university's certificate program in sustainability and opportunities in recycling.

That led him to search environmental internships. He found Global Treks & Adventures LLC based in Michigan, which offers travel expeditions to Iceland and Spain for environmental research and anthropology. Each group accepts a dozen students.

"I immediately applied, because visiting Iceland to study ecosystems has been a dream of mine for years," Hollis said. "I was shocked to learn I was accepted, after hearing how competitive the process was. I am extremely grateful and excited to put this experience on my resume."

The three-month internship is split into three phases: the first month is spent studying prepared topics; the second includes a weeklong tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland; and the third is for writing a travel article for publication.

It seems Hollis has plenty to write about.

He just returned from Iceland, an island of dramatic scenery surrounded by 13 peninsulas. The country has some of the biggest glaciers and most active volcanoes in the world.

In his week there, Hollis' group didn't waste any time. The group visited the Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River; Thingvellir National Park, where two tectonic plates are narrowly separated by the Atlantic Ocean; Mt. Helgafel in Heimaey, where the god Thor was once thought to reside; and the geothermal hot springs at Seltún.

Hollis got to see towering Norway Spruce and Scots Pines in Heidmörk Forest; the stunning mountain range of Esjan; the largest town in Iceland, Reykjavík; and the seaside town of Keflavík. He walked the 7-mile Krisuvik Trail; and visited the Hellisheiði Geothermal Plant, where there is an active volcanic ridge near Hengill.

The group lodged at the Sudurnes Science and Learning Center in the coastal town of Sandgerði, where fish and chips can always be found on the menu.

For the internship's final project, participants write about sustainable tourism, their guided outdoor experiences and environmental education for a travel publication. Hollis is working on his now.

"It was a quick expedition, but full of learning and research," Hollis said. "I helped collect GPS data so we can publish accurate trail information and create maps. I'm writing about the habitats and ecosystems of the Reykjanes Peninsula."

"This internship directly ties into my major," he said, "although I'm still uncertain exactly which route to take for my future career-maybe general environmental data collection or sustainability."

Georgia College helped Hollis "immensely" to prepare for this adventure and receive class credit. He's especially grateful to Dr. Allison VandeVoort, associate professor of environmental science, and study abroad advisor Ariana Youmans for their help.

"While I was only in Iceland a week," Hollis said, "I was on the trails pretty much the whole time, collecting information for my publication. I couldn't ask for anything more."

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