Julien Barsch
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Palos Heights, Illinois
I want to join this project to deepen my understanding of signaling sensors and their applications in biomedical instrumentation, especially since I haven’t had research experience before. I hope to learn how to experiment, collect data, and solve problems in a research setting while broadening my perspective, strengthening my teamwork and communication skills, and engaging with the culture and community in Iceland.
Abigail Bielecki
Major: Sustainability Science, Communications Studies
Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa
I want to join this project to deepen my understanding of how scientific research, art, and education intersect to communicate environmental issues, while expanding my experience beyond Latin American and Spanish‑speaking contexts. I hope to grow as a sustainability researcher by learning from Iceland’s renewable energy systems and natural landscapes, strengthening my creativity, collaboration, and communication skills as I work in a new environment.
Anna Blobaum
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
I want to join this experience because it inspires me to be part of something bigger than myself, offering the chance to contribute to a meaningful design project and build international connections in a new academic context. I hope to learn how to work effectively on a team, navigate unfamiliar situations, and carry a project from its earliest stages through completion.
Abigail Cahill
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Elmhurst, Illinois
I want to join this experience because it gives me the rare chance to learn about eclipses and meteorology, work on an inspiring real‑world interdisciplinary project, and connect with students and educators from across the world. I hope to strengthen my creativity, teamwork, and problem‑solving skills while proving to myself—personally and professionally—that I can thrive through new challenges and bring my interdisciplinary strengths to future opportunities.
Braden Carne
Major: Physics, Astronomy
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
I want to join this project because it offers a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to explore Iceland’s unique landscapes, culture, and architecture while pursuing my interests in sightseeing and photography. I hope to gain valuable experience in high‑altitude ballooning and instrumentation that will strengthen my academic and professional profile and leave a lasting positive impact on my personal and professional growth.
Jack Edeker
Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa
Major: Jewelry and Metal Arts
I want to join this project to gain experience working collaboratively on an interdisciplinary project in an international setting, and I can think of no better way to do this than by launching weather balloons in Iceland. I see this as an opportunity to strengthen my communication and problem-solving skills while bringing new perspectives back into my studio practice and teaching.
Luca Engel
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
I want to join this experience to broaden my understanding of the world by learning from new cultures and forming meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds. I hope to gain hands‑on experience building and testing a project from start to finish, strengthening skills that will support both future collaborations and professional opportunities.
Aidan Esparza
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: River Forest, Illinois
I want to join this program because it offers the perfect first step into engineering by giving me hands‑on experience working with a multidisciplinary team on a real project. I hope to build practical engineering skills that will strengthen my future job search, prepare me for opportunities like Continental Crossings, and give me the chance to see a project through to completion.
Rhea Fisch
Major: Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
I want to join this project to build strong connections with a small group of research‑minded classmates while gaining hands‑on field experience beyond my usual lab work. I also hope to strengthen my photography skills by learning to capture complex natural lighting conditions created by systems like the sun, atmosphere, and weather.
Ethan Hung
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
I want to join this experience to build my skills in collaborative engineering while forming connections with people outside my major who share similar educational passions. I hope to gain my first meaningful experience abroad, broaden my perspective on different cultures, and take an important first step toward a career that allows me to travel and understand what people around the world value.
Ella Jack
Major: Art Education
Hometown: Indianola, Iowa
I want to join this experience to connect with people who share my passions for education and art, building friendships as we work together toward a common goal in an exciting new environment. I hope to contribute creative ideas through my art background while learning from a new culture and deepening my ability to collaborate within a diverse group.
Addison Judd
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
I want to join this experience to gain independence and confidence by immersing myself in a completely new environment, learning from people with diverse backgrounds, and deepening my appreciation for cultures beyond my own. I hope to strengthen my creative, collaborative, and hands‑on problem‑solving skills by working on an interdisciplinary project with an international team, ultimately helping me shape my future academic and career goals.
Arissa Khan
Major: Physics, Chemistry
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
I want to join this experience to immerse myself in Iceland’s rich culture and history while learning how to engage meaningfully with new communities—something I see as essential for my growth as a scientist working in a global field. I hope to strengthen my ability to connect cultural understanding with scientific research, gaining experience that will help me build more human‑centered, internationally collaborative scientific work in the future.
Obatola Layiwola
Major: Graphic Design
Hometown: Madison, South Dakota
I bring a strong foundation in visual design and material exploration, with a focus on how form, process, and context shape visual communication. I'm excited to participate in the Iceland project because it offers a unique opportunity to engage visual design and material-based practices within a distinct cultural and environmental context.
Meredith LeFevre
Major: Physics, Astronomy
Hometown: Hesston, Kansas
I want to join this program because it offers a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to experience a new country, broaden my perspective, and grow personally by engaging with a culture I never imagined visiting. I hope to develop hands‑on skills in structural engineering, telemetry, and interdisciplinary problem‑solving while strengthening my ability to bridge creativity and scientific inquiry for future academic and professional work.
Michael Maggio
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Mount Prospect, Illinois
I want to join this program to apply my engineering skills in a real-world setting where I can move beyond theoretical design work and actively implement solutions, especially through the hands-on weather balloon project in Iceland. I hope to strengthen my communication, collaboration, and problem‑solving skills by working with people from diverse backgrounds, ultimately becoming a more practical, adaptable, and well‑rounded engineer.
Mishka Mohamed Nour
Major: Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Alwali, Sudan
I want to join this experience to successfully launch our balloon while learning more about Iceland, its people, and its leadership in renewable energy. I hope to strengthen my interdisciplinary and international collaboration skills, gain insight into becoming a well‑rounded engineer, and build meaningful connections with both my team and the local community.
Mawuena Morgan
Major: Art Education
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
I want to join this experience to challenge my own assumptions about where I can learn and thrive, and to broaden my horizons by engaging with a culture I’ve often overlooked. I hope to replace stereotypes with real understanding so I can grow into a more open‑minded, well‑cultured, and accepting teacher.
Megan Murphy
Major: Physics, Astronomy
Hometown: Indianola, Iowa
I want to join this experience to immerse myself in Iceland’s unique culture, history, and landscape while exploring my interests in science, art, and mythology in a place unlike anywhere I’ve been before. I hope to strengthen my scientific communication and collaboration skills by working outside my comfort zone, gaining experience that will prepare me for future research travel and teamwork in professional settings.
Clayton Salley
Major: Jewelry and Metal Arts
Hometown: Austin, Texas
I want to join this project to broaden my global perspective and strengthen my ability to collaborate on large, international initiatives with people from diverse backgrounds. I hope to learn how to design, propose, and facilitate major cross‑country projects by gaining insight into effective leadership, communication, and planning strategies that will help me grow as a collaborator and future project leader.
Samantha Schuster
Major: Art Education
Hometown: Waukee, Iowa
I want to join this project because I’m excited to travel internationally again and explore how science, engineering, and art can intersect in meaningful ways. I hope to gain valuable interdisciplinary experience by working with learners from different fields, building skills and memories that will support my professional growth and stay with me throughout my career.
Sydney Tune
Major: Physics, Astronomy
Hometown: Strafford, Missouri
I want to be part of this project because it will be my first major trip overseas and a chance to experience Iceland and its culture through an academic lens. I hope to gain experience that will prepare me for a career involving international travel, research, and conference participation.
Iceland – Faculty Profiles
Dan Clay
Dean
College of Education
Darrell Currington
Makerspace Facilitator
Department of Teaching and Learning
College of Education
Di Fan
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
College of Education
Stratis Giannakouros
Director
Office of Sustainability and the Environment
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Aaron Kennedy
Co-Graduate Program Director
Associate Chair
Associate Professor
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
University of North Dakota
Steve McGuire
Professor, Area Head
Jewelry and Metal Arts
School of Art, Art History, and Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Amira Nash
Associate Director
School Partnerships and Global Education Initiatives
College of Education
Thalassa Raasch
Director of Undergraduate Studies - Studio Division
Assistant Professor
School of Art, Art History, and Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Kay Ramey
Assistant Professor
Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology
College of Education
Adam Skibbe
Senior GIS Administrator
Adjunct Professor
School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences