Jóhann Mar Ólafsson, IS
Former student intern at Iceland School of Energy
Name: Jóhann Mar Ólafsson
Age: 27
Hometown: Kópavogur, Iceland
Academic Background: B.Sc. in Geology, Háskóli Íslands, Iceland
Major & Class: Sustainable Energy, Class of 2018
With whom did you intern?
The Iceland School of Energy.
How did you find your internship opportunity?
The Iceland School of Energy reached out to me and asked me to help them with this project.
What project did you work on in your internship?
I researched the use of drones in various different fields of exploration.
What did you enjoy the most?
The learning process was great. I was able to expand my knowledge on a topic I knew little to nothing about and made numerous contacts along the way. I am now exploring the work I did on my internship as my thesis topic.
What were your biggest challenges?
My biggest challenge was to find a drone that was suitable for almost everything, without being too expensive. Easy, right?
How did this internship help your career?
It expanded my list of contacts and way of thinking. The range of possibilities are endless when considering drone applications. In general, if you think you must follow in somebody else's footsteps, you're wrong. Innovation is key and it's up to you to create something new.
How did it compliment your studies at ISE?
During my time at ISE I've focused a lot on geothermal and with a background in geology I hope to combine the experience from my internship and thesis and make a career out of it.
What advice do you have for future students?
Internships are good for expanding your knowledge and contact list. But, don't sit around and wait for things to happen. If you have an idea or interest, pursue it!