A team of Geography students from the University of Dundee left for Iceland at the weekend to take part in a month-long international research project.
The undergraduates have raised more than £8000 to fund what is the biggest University Geography field trip for more than a decade. On their arrival in the south eastern corner of the Iceland, some of the group will join forces with a team of American archaeologists to investigate the impact of the country's first Norse settlers on the environment.
The other half of the Dundee group will be mapping flood routes in the massive Asbyrgi Canyon.
Funding for the project was donated by various groups, including £2300 from the Cross Trust, £2000 from the Carnegie Trust, £1600 from the Royal Geographical Society and £750 from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society..
Team member Helen Primrose said, "Our research is going to feed into that of other groups working in the same area and the combined results will ultimately allow us to build up a better picture of former land use and settlement in the area.
"At the same time, it will be a great experience for us, both culturally and academically."