Returning. Researching. Learning. Together.
Like the Arctic tern that returns to Iceland each year, Eastfjords T.E.R.N. (Transdisciplinary Environmental Research Network) brings researchers, students, educators, and partners back to the Eastfjords to work with local communities, learn from one another, and build knowledge of the region over time.
Eastfjords TERN is a long-term research network focused on environmental and social change in East Iceland. Through field research, environmental monitoring, education, and community collaboration, TERN connects scientific research with local knowledge to better understand the Eastfjords and the changes shaping the region.
Our work includes environmental DNA (eDNA), water quality monitoring, biodiversity surveys, underwater observation, and social science research. Local students, teachers, residents, researchers, and visiting university students take part in the research process. Each year builds on previous work, creating a growing body of knowledge while strengthening local research and monitoring capacity. This reflects the project's emphasis on involving students and community members directly in research and building long-term capacity within Eastfjords communities.
Why TERN?
The Arctic tern returns to Iceland each year as part of its remarkable annual migration. Eastfjords TERN is based on a similar idea of return.
Researchers and students come back to the Eastfjords year after year. They revisit research sites, continue conversations, collect long-term data, ask new questions, and work with local partners. The aim is not simply to conduct research in the Eastfjords, but to develop research relationships that grow over time.
Each return adds to what we know.
Lead Investigators:
- Dr. C. Patrick Heidkamp
- Dr. Emma Cross
- Dr. Scott Graves
The Eastfjords Iceland
Our Approach
Transdisciplinary Action Research is a collaborative, problem-driven approach that brings together diverse forms of expertise to create actionable solutions for societal challenges.
Projects
Fjord Biodiversity & Water Quality