Kyra Campbell '27 | Biochemistry and Environmental Science Double Major | Attachment Course: Iceland, Spring 2025 | Presidential Fund for Equity Recipient 

As the world grapples with critical issues related to the environment and climate, solutions can sometimes feel few and far between. 

But sometimes, answers to vexing global problems can be found in unexpected places, like standing beside the world's first large-scale carbon capture plant on a volcanic island, watching CO2 transform into solid rock. 

During a 2025 spring travel course in Iceland, biochemistry and environmental science double major Kyra Campbell discovered more than just academic theory in action. The Los Angeles native found new perspectives on what's possible when humans work with, rather than against, their environment. 

"I think it gives me a lot more hope," Kyra reflected on her time in Iceland. "In theory, there’s a lot of things we could do, but to actually see the process of sequestering CO2 in practice was really cool." 

The two-week journey through Iceland's breathtaking landscapes was made possible for Kyra with the Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience, which helped remove financial barriers that might have prevented her from participating in the Social Ecological Systems course taught by Professor Zion Klos. 

"As a science major, it's always kind of hard to study abroad," Kyra explained. "I just wanted that outside perspective and to learn how other people live." 

Thanks to the fund, Kyra experienced firsthand how Icelanders have adapted to one of the world's most extreme environments. 

Thanks to the fund, Kyra experienced firsthand how Icelanders have adapted to one of the world's most extreme environments. 

• She witnessed resilience in action while touring towns recently affected by volcanic eruptions, where residents remain committed to rebuilding despite lava flows running through their main streets. "They just embrace it as part of their environment," she said. "They can trace their family trees back to the original ships that landed there—it's a lot of 'we're here and we love it.'" 
• ...explored cutting-edge environmental technology at the Orca plant, the first facility to turn atmospheric CO2 into rock on a massive scale. "They're capturing it from the air, pumping it underground, and at high pressures it reacts with the basalt to become calcium bicarbonate," she explained. "It's sequestering millions of tons of CO2." 
• ...and discovered a carbon-neutral society in a country that generates 98% of its power through geothermal and hydroelectric sources.  

The course combined academics and exploration, featuring backcountry hiking, discussions at the top of mountains, and visits to glaciers, waterfalls, and the famous Blue Lagoon. Even President Kevin Weinman joined portions of the trip, emphasizing the University's commitment to experiential learning. 

For Kyra, who came to Marist through a National Science Foundation scholarship, the attachment course opened her eyes to possibilities for her future. 

"I went back and read a bunch of articles after seeing the plant," she said. "It was really interesting to see what's possible." 

This transformative experience represents what the Presidential Equity Fund aims to achieve, ensuring that financial constraints don't limit a student's ability to gain life-changing perspectives through travel and study.