GeoSpace 4: Young Explorers from three nations

The 4th edition of the GeoSpace program will take place in and around Húsavík this week. The program brings together three young explorers from three different countries, each with a unique connection to Iceland and a shared passion for science, nature, and exploration.

Ava Crowder (16, USA) grew up surrounded by nature in rural America, developing an early fascination with biology, chemistry, and geology. Her recent research project on Geobacter sulfurreducens, a rust-eating bacterium that could protect spacecraft from corrosion, won a national science competition and may be tested aboard the International Space Station. Her sister, Sophia Crowder, was part of the third GeoSpace group in Iceland 2022.

Gerd Eston (25, Estonia) has lived in Iceland for the past two years and says the country’s volcanic landscapes have deeply inspired him. “I had never been in a place with such rich volcanic history before.” Earlie this year he bought a jeep to be able to drive around Iceland “Driving to the Askja region this summer felt like being on another planet.” His growing passion for geology and Icelandic nature has become a central part of his journey.

Anastasia (Αναστασία) Mpogianni (27, Greece), from Thessaloniki, is equally drawn to Iceland’s natural and historical landscape. Fascinated by geology, volcanoes, and the story of the Apollo astronauts training in Iceland, she plans to document her GeoSpace experience on film. “I’ve always loved history, how the world evolves, and how it repeats itself,” she says.

The GeoSpace Iceland program is hosted by The Exploration Museum in Húsavík and takes place alongside the 11th Húsavík Explorers Festival, where participants will join field excursions, workshops, and presentations exploring the frontiers of Earth and space.