The Comparative History of Ideas department (CHID) of the University of Washington offers a biannual summer program in Iceland, led by Dr. Phillip Thurtle, director of the CHID department. This is a cross-disciplinary study program which emphasizes the relationship between humans and nature. In Iceland, the culture and environment of the country are explored with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding in the ways that Icelanders have cultivated relationships to the land and to each other, forging a unique cultural identity in an era of global capital.

The CHID group travels around Iceland spending part of their stay in the Westfjords where they get acquainted with local culture and history, through lectures, visits to local museums as well as short field trips. The students also get some language instruction during their stay in the region.

The last visit of a CHID field school group took place in the summer of 2012 and the Centre is looking forward to welcoming a new group in the summer of 2014.