Humans of Honors: Jackson Normandin

“I was fortunate to attend the Study of Volcanic and Glacial Processes Dialogue of Civilizations in the summer of 2023. I have always loved geology, so a study of igneous and glacial processes was the correct fit for me. The Dialogue of Civilizations provided me with an expansive tour of Iceland’s geology, spanning from the active eruption zones in the southwest to the massive glacier toward the center of the country. While in Iceland, our group camped throughout the country as we moved between study sites. In spite of the Dialogue of Civilizations taking place in the summer, we endured temperatures near freezing at night. Also, aggressive winds in excess of 30 miles per hour were regular occurrences. In addition to providing me with an in-depth education in volcanology and glaciology, the study provided me with an introduction to fieldwork, as I illustrated maps of rock outcroppings, determined modal compositions of igneous rocks, and kept detailed field notes of my geochronological interpretations of various geologic features.

While the experience itself was incredible, it presented me with the opportunity to partake in research and field work in the future. I have refined my future goals from my experience in Iceland, and I am now applying to graduate schools to research volcanology and glaciology. Moreover, the Dialogue of Civilizations experience has provided me with a career path in research. I was exposed to a new avenue to explore, and I was inspired to apply, and eventually get hired, to conduct research at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Being one year removed from the experience, I have reinforced my affinity for the field and research environments through my current internship and exploration into a graduate education, a process that could not have taken place if not for the field study in Iceland.”