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Improving earthquake safety

30/03/2023 - 09:04

One of the most important responsibilities of scientists across the world is finding solutions to problems in our society, the biosphere or our environment. 

Benedikt Halldórsson is certainly living up to that responsibility, devoting his entire research career to the earthquakes that are almost a daily occurrence here in Iceland. Just this week in March 2023, the week this article was written, around 360 earthquakes were recorded by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. This is actually a lower number than the previous week, when around 500 were recorded.

Generally in Iceland, it is not until the earthquakes start getting bigger that people start to sit up and take notice. But there can certainly be grave consequences when powerful earthquakes strike near inhabited areas and infrastructure, as the world was recently reminded when we witnessed the horrific scenes in Turkey following massive earthquakes this February. 

Clues about historical climate and ecosystems in Icelandic sediment

Can we see what the biosphere was like off the coast of Iceland thousands of years ago? Yes!

Using specialised equipment to excavate sediment from the ocean floor at the Reykjanes ridge, it is possible to analyse the core almost year by year and discover the ecological and meteorological factors that helped to shape it. This was the mission at hand when Árni Friðriksson, the Marine Research Institute's vessel, set sail on a two-week expedition from the south of Iceland to collect samples from the sediment on the sea bed. New technology will be used to analyse ancient DNA in the samples, so-called eDNA, which will help researchers shed light on the relationship between the climate and marine ecosystems thousands of years in the past. 

Young people found it hard to adjust to normal life after the pandemic

30/01/2023 - 08:10

The public health measures put in place to handle the COVID-19 pandemic had many direct and indirect consequences for the health and well-being of young people. Eva Jörgensen, PhD student in anthropology at the University of Icelnad, is currently working on a research project entitled "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents aged 12-17," says that a lot of the pandemic response was excellent, but that perhaps more effort should have gone into considering young people's perspectives and communicating effectively with them. In an interview with a journalism and mass communication student at UI, she discussed her research, the inspiration behind it, her methods and her findings.

How did you get the idea for this research and how is it going? 

Orientation week at the University of Iceland 5-9 September

05/09/2022 - 11:51

The University of Iceland welcomes our new students with a special orientation week from 5 to 9 September, featuring a programme of fun events and opportunities to learn about life at UI and available services. 
An information desk for new students will be open during orientation week between 10 am and 2 pm in the University Centre. The desk will be manned by representatives from the Student Council, ready to answer questions about programmes, the University, accommodation, social events, services and anything else.

New students will have the chance to learn about services offered at the University. All the main service institutes will have a booth where people can stop to chat with staff and find out what they do and what kinds of services are available to students. The booths will be in place on Monday 5 September 11.30 am to 1 pm in the University Centre. 

Orientation week

5. September 2022 - 10:00 to 9. September 2022 - 14:00

Háskólatorg

The University of Iceland welcomes our new students with a special orientation week from 5 to 9 September, featuring a programme of fun events and opportunities to learn about life at UI and available services. 

An information desk for new students will be open during orientation week between 10 am and 2 pm in the University Centre. The desk will be manned by representatives from the Student Council, ready to answer questions about programmes, the University, accommodation, social events, services and anything else.

New students will have the chance to learn about services offered at the University. All the main service institutes will have a booth where people can stop to chat with staff and find out what they do and what kinds of services are available to students. The booths will be in place on Monday 5 September 11.30 am to 1 pm in the University Centre. 

Clues about historical climate and ecosystems in Icelandic sediment

10/02/2022 - 13:46

Can we see what the biosphere was like off the coast of Iceland thousands of years ago? Yes!

Using specialised equipment to excavate sediment from the ocean floor at the Reykjanes ridge, it is possible to analyse the core almost year by year and discover the ecological and meteorological factors that helped to shape it. This was the mission at hand when Árni Friðriksson, the Marine Research Institute's vessel, set sail on a two-week expedition from the south of Iceland to collect samples from the sediment on the sea bed. New technology will be used to analyse ancient DNA in the samples, so-called eDNA, which will help researchers shed light on the relationship between the climate and marine ecosystems thousands of years in the past. 

Topological Antiferromagnetic Spintronics

28. June 2021 - 13:00 to 14:00

Askja

Room 132

Dr. Mathias Kläui, Professor of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz and adjunct professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology gives a lecture titled Topological Antiferromagnetic Spintronics.

He received his PhD at the University of Cambridge, after which he joined the IBM Research Labs in Zürich. He was a junior group leader at the University of Konstanz and then became associate professor in a joint appointment between the EPFL and the PSI in Switzerland before moving to Mainz. His research focuses on nanomagnetism and spin dynamics on the nanoscale in new materials. His research covers from blue sky fundamental science to applied projects with major industrial partners. He has published more than 300 articles and given more than 200 invited talks. He is a Senior member of the IEEE and, a Fellow of the IOP and APS and has been awarded a number of prizes and scholarships.

Male judges more likely to rule in favour of the prosecution but female judges for the defence

15/07/2021 - 08:26

Preliminary results from a new academic study at the Faculty of Law indicate that age and gender of judges and lawyers may affect the results of court cases.

Valgerður Sólnes, associate professor at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Law is working on the study and says that the idea came to her and Benedikt Bogason professor and chief justice of the supreme court. "We then got Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, professor and pro-rector for science, to join us, as the study is interdisciplinary in the fields of law and social sciences.

Software for sorting surgeries received the UI Applied Science Prize

28/03/2019 - 09:00

Software that helps hospital administrators in finding and maintaining the best categorisation of surgeries received first prize in the Applied Science Prize at the University of Iceland yesterday. Bouncing boat seats, Safe Seats, and nutrition treatment for people with irritable bowel syndrome also received awards at the ceremony.  

This was the 21th time that the prize was presented. The aim of the prize is to bring out utilizable ideas from students and staff at the University of Iceland and affiliated institutes. The awards are a collaboration of the University of Iceland, Árnason|Faktor, the Innovation Centre Iceland, and the New Business Venture Fund; a new collaborator and sponsor of the applied science prize.  

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