UG students on an internship in Iceland. They study the behaviour of cetaceans

Thanks to the Mobility in Higher Education project, two students from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography went on an internship to the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. They have been staying at the Hύsavík Research Centre since the beginning of July this year.

The students take part in expeditions with the University of Iceland's research units. Their task is to observe and photograph the behaviour of cetaceans. - 'As soon as we arrived in Hύsavík, we were able to take a cruise and see the first in our lives humpback whales and dolphins that jumped right next to the boat. Even a porpoise, the incredibly shy cetacean, graced us with its presence,' - says Hanna Wegnerowska, a programme participant.

The students' stay will last until the end of August. During their internship, they will identify individual cetaceans, record their behaviour and track their breathing frequency. At the end of the programme, the participants will prepare a portfolio in which they will summarise their two-month work. 

- 'Every observation takes people away from reality. Whales are able to swim underneath a ship or surface right in front of its bow. The excitement generated by such an encounter then lasts for the rest of the day. Admittedly, we have only just started our adventure in Iceland, but we agree that it is one of the most extraordinary ones we will have in a lifetime,' - says Magdalena Socha, a programme participant. 

'The project entitled. "Mobility in Higher Education" benefits from a grant of EUR 26 245.00 received from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA funds. The aim of the project is to increase the mobility of students and university staff between Poland and the Donor States.'

ILN grants
Marcel Jakubowski / Press Office UG