ISE Stories
Discover the journeys of our people as they innovate, inspire, and drive the future of sustainable energy.
Students
Kristina Solberg, USA
Follow Kristina's journey from civil engineering in the U.S. to studying sustainable energy at the Iceland School of Energy. Now in her thesis year, she’s exploring low-temperature geothermal and waste-to-energy solutions while gaining hands-on experience through research and industry collaboration. From working with Carbfix to embracing Icelandic life.
Lucian Bennet-Brandt, USA
Follow Lucian Bennett-Brandt’s journey from Houston to Iceland as he pursues a master’s in Sustainable Energy Science at the Iceland School of Energy. From working on carbon capture with Carbfix to exploring Iceland’s energy landscape, Lucian’s story highlights how real-world experience and passion for sustainability shape the future of energy.
Pia Milena Leminski, Germany
Pia’s passion for renewable energy brought her from Germany to Iceland, where she pursued an MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the Iceland School of Energy. Through internships and a summer role at Landsvirkjun, she gained hands-on experience in wind and hydro energy, applying her skills to shape Iceland’s sustainable energy future.
Yonathan Hary Hutagalung, Indonesia
An ISE student from Indonesia, Hary has explored both high- and low-temperature geothermal systems. Through opportunities like the Thermogeology Summer School in Slovenia, he gained hands-on experience and expanded his global perspective on sustainable energy solutions.
Bethany Bronkema, USA
A Fulbright scholar in 2022, Bethany researched the environmental impacts of aluminum production in Iceland. This transformative experience sparked her passion for sustainability and led her to pursue an MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the Iceland School of Energy.
Alumni
Andrés Laverde, Colombia
From Bogotá to Iceland, Andrés combined his passion for volcanology and sustainability with hands-on learning at ISE. Now a geothermal energy engineer at Arctic Green Energy, he travels the world advancing renewable energy solutions while mentoring ISE students and interns.
Maxon Quas, USA
With a background in Mechanical Engineering, Maxon expanded his expertise by earning an MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the Iceland School of Energy. His research on wind turbine efficiency in harsh climates reflects ISE’s hands-on approach to tackling real-world energy challenges.
Gunnlaug Helga Ásgeirsdóttir
Hailing from Ólafsfjörður, Iceland, Gunnlaug combined her passion for sustainability with global experiences, including a semester at the University of Bern and research on energy justice in Iceland. After completing her MSc at ISE, she joined Carbfix, where she is helping shape the future of carbon storage and environmental sustainability in Iceland.
Faculty
Juliet Newson - Director, New Zealand
Dr. Juliet Newson is a leading educator in energy, dedicated to developing innovative learning approaches and shaping future energy leaders at the Iceland School of Energy
Vala Hjörleifsdóttir - Associate Professor, Iceland
With a Ph.D. from Caltech and extensive industry experience, she specializes in geothermal innovation and natural hazard monitoring. She collaborates with students and industry partners to advance sustainable energy solutions.
Ármann Gylfason - Chair of Engineering, Iceland
A Cornell-trained engineer, he combines expertise in thermal and fluid mechanics with a passion for teaching. As Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, he drives cutting-edge research and prepares students to lead in the evolving engineering field.
Ágúst Valfells - Professor, Iceland
A founding member of the ISE, his research covers a range of energy systems across physics, earth and planetary sciences, and engineering. He works closely with numerous master’s and PhD students, fostering innovation and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
David Christian Finger - Associate Professor, Austria
Integrating 30 years of expertise in sustainable energy, he leads innovative projects in water resources, hydropower, and climate adaptation. His interdisciplinary approach bridges science and application, aligning environmental conservation with societal needs.
Jacob Kaminski - Program Manager, United States
With a background in earth sciences, energy, and policy, and extensive experience in university administration, he leads the daily operations of the Iceland School of Energy, working closely with the director to empower the school's mission.
María Sigríður Guðjónsdóttir - Associate Professor, Iceland
Specializing in enhancing geothermal efficiency and cost-effectiveness with over 20 years of experience. She mentors numerous MSc and PhD students and makes significant contributions to the GRO Geothermal program. Her collaborative approach with industry leverages real-world data to drive innovation.