Two young women will been invited to Húsavík this November as a part of a Beverly Turner Lynds Memorial Scholarship to take part in astronaut-style geology training, following in the footsteps of the Apollo astronauts who prepared for their lunar missions in Iceland during the 1960s.
The program is part of the Iceland GeoSpace initiative, hosted by The Exploration Museum, which uses the volcanic landscapes of northern Iceland as a natural classroom for learning about planetary geology. Participants explore lava fields, geothermal areas, and fossil sites, gaining hands-on field experience similar to what NASA’s Apollo astronauts undertook in the area before walking on the Moon.
This November’s training will also mark the beginning of the newly announced Beverly Turner Lynds Memorial Scholarship, created to support and empower young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The scholarship honors the late Dr. Beverly Turner Lynds, a pioneering American astronomer known for her groundbreaking work cataloguing nebulae and her dedication to diversity in science.
“We are deeply honored to carry forward Dr. Lynds’ legacy by supporting the next generation of female scientists,” said Orly Orlyson, director of The Exploration Museum. “This scholarship is a meaningful tribute to her lifelong dedication to science and equity, and we are grateful to the Turner family for their support of this vision.”
Since its start in 2018, the Iceland GeoSpace program has welcomed 3 groups, including aspiring astronauts and space science students from around the world. It has also hosted six Apollo astronauts and four Space Shuttle astronauts on return visits to Iceland. The two women training in Húsavík this November will be the first to take part under the new scholarship program, with applications opening globally for future participants in 2025.
How to apply: Visit the website of The Exploration Museum to apply.
