Study abroad trip to Iceland fuels Meridith Williams 's passion for green energy

2018 Jan 29

Meridith Williams of Benton, AR, spent nine days of her winter break in Iceland, one of the greenest countries on the planet, for an intensive study of renewable energy.

During the trip, Williams and others students from around the world heard presentations by industry experts on sustainability, hydropower, geology, biofuels and geothermal energy. She earned two college credits as part of the experience.

Going in, Williams hoped to learn about the "green aspects" of Iceland such as how the country harnesses energy from dormant volcanoes into geothermal technology to power cities.

"To say the least, my expectations were met above and beyond what I initially thought," Williams said. "I not only learned about and visited their hydropower and geothermal plants, but I learned about the culture - the way they eat, live, and prosper in such a harsh climate."

The trip was Williams's first international travel experience. As part of the program, Williams and other students explored the city of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital and largest city with a population of about 123,000 people. She explored caves and lava tubes and snorkeled between Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The most memorable highlight, though, was a six-hour hike to a natural hot springs in the Sveitarfelgio mountains. The return hike was in darkness, about 60 miles from the nearest city.

"This program is exactly what I needed for my career goals," Williams said, "but more importantly, this program and this trip helped fulfill me as a person. Going to Iceland has opened my eyes to technologies that are needed for green energy here in the U.S. I want to help fight for a cleaner earth and help invent and grow the use of green technology."

Williams' trip to Iceland was arranged through The GREEN (Global Renewable Energy Education Network) Program, an intensive program that immerses students in sustainability efforts around the world.

She has been working in the construction industry for the past four years at CDI Contractors in Little Rock, where she is the marketing coordinator, a project administrator intern, and administers a hands-on program in partnership with local subcontractors that teaches participants multiple construction trades.