ABOUT SVARTÁRKOT CULTURE — NATURE

THE SVARTÁRKOT CULTURE – NATURE (SCN) programme focuses on the diverse interactions between humans and nature, inspired by the Svartárkot farm in Bárðardalur valley, northern Iceland. The programme is managed by a group of independent scholars and scientists partly affiliated with the Reykjavik Academy, in cooperation with Svartárkot’s farmers. Most of the programme’s courses and lectures take place in the Kiðagil guesthouse and community centre in Bárðardalur valley near the Svartárkot farm.
Click this image to take a closer look at some of the locations relevant to the programme

The project has no secure funding but is supported by tuition fees and occasionally by research grants obtained by group members. The SCN courses offer unique learning experiences combining high-quality academic lectures with the spectacular local landscapes. The Svartárkot farm, the Bárðardalur Valley and the neighbouring Lake Mývatn region are situated in areas of diverse natural features: lakes with unique bird-life, wilderness, lava fields, glacial rivers, and waterfalls. The history, literature and folklore of the area are fascinating, containing stories of ghosts and trolls as well as a long history of human resilience and innovation. The climatology and unique ecosystems of the area are also presented.

The spring of life, a hidden secret in Bárðardalur valley. Photo Viðar Hreinsson
The spring of life, a hidden secret in Bárðardalur valley. Photo Viðar Hreinsson
A well on the deserted farm Brenniás. Photo Viðar Hreinsson
A well on the deserted farm Brenniás. Photo Viðar Hreinsson

Currently, SCN operates in two arenas with a third under development:

1. Offering summer courses to small groups of international graduate and post-graduate students, professors and scholars looking for new insights and inspirations in post-and transdisciplinary methods.

2. Offering lectures and services to professors and universities who bring their students as a part of their curriculum. This may include travels in Iceland that SCN organizes, and a stay at Kiðagil for a certain amount of time.

Lecturing at Aldeyjarfoss, 2007 demo course
Lecturing at Aldeyjarfoss, 2007 demo course

SCN has held 6 annual academic courses: One in 2007, two courses in 2009 and one in each year of 2014, 2015 and 2018. Furthermore, SCN has received a number of student groups from the USA and United Kingdom in this period.

LOCATIONS

Most of the programme’s courses and lectures take place in the Kiðagil guesthouse and community centre in Bárðardalur valley near the Svartárkot farm.

SVARTÁRKOT FARM

A working sheep farm at the southernmost part of Bárðardalur valley

BÁRÐARDALUR VALLEY

The setting for most of the programme’s courses and lectures

KIÐAGIL GUESTHOUSE

A hostel and community centre located at a mid point in the Bárðardalur valley

HISTORY

The idea to run academic courses at the border between human habitation and wilderness was conceived after Viðar Hreinsson’s visit to Svartárkot in 2005. A demo-course for scholars and professors was held in Kiðagil in June 2007. Since then 5 signature academic courses have been held and the project has organized a number of other courses for student groups from individual universities in the USA and the UK. 

OUR TEAM

The team behind Svartárkot Culture Nature consists of a diverse group of professionals led by program director Viðar Hreinsson and co-directors Guðrún Tryggvadóttir and Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir. The core team has considerable and varied research experience and extensive knowledge of a variety of subjects relating to ongoing projects and pertaining to the main theme of SCN.

CONTACT US

Svartárkot Nature-Culture Svartárkot, 645 Fosshóli

+354 844 8645 – vidar@svartarkot.is

+354 895 4742 – gudrunhlini@gmail.com