What characterises femicide in Iceland
Femicide in Iceland over the last 30 years is the focus of Freydís Jóna Freysteinsdóttir’s, Associate Professor in Social Work, research. The study is part of a network called Femicide across Europe "There are four groups that operate within the network. One of them defines what femicide is and what it entails. A simple definition would be that femicide is when a murder of a woman can be traced to her gender. Another group analysis statistical data and endeavours to map how many such murders have been committed in Europe. The third group examines how culture affects femicides whereas the fourth focuses on preventions. I am in the group that studies culture," says Freydís and adds: "I find it an interesting approach in the study. Femicides in Iceland are usually committed in a rampage, even though in most cases they are preceded by violence," says Freydís.
Fun and facts for new students at UI
29/08/2016 - 10:15
Concerts, micro courses, dance, walks and introduction of the UI support services are part of an interesting programme offered to welcome new students to the University of Iceland. The week long programme takes place in the University centre (Háskólatorg) and begins on Monday 29 August. Almost 3000 new students arrive on campus these days and the University strives to make them feel welcome and educate them about the University community.
Preschool language knowledge predicts academic achievement
03/03/2016 - 16:00
The results of a 10-year longitudinal study of Icelandic children show conclusively the importance of good language skills in children when they start elementary school. This is the conclusion of an Icelandic research team that recently published its results in the distinguished scientific journal American Journal of Speech and Language Pathology, published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
The authors are Jóhanna Thelma Einarsdóttir, Associate Professor in Speech Pathology at the UI Schools of Health Sciences and Education, Amalía Björnsdóttir, Associate Professor in Research Methodology at the UI School of Education, and Ingibjörg Símonardóttir, special education teacher and speech therapist.
Entertainment and Education for new students at UI
31/08/2015 - 10:45
Concerts, micro courses, dance, walks and introduction of the UI support services are part of an interesting programme offered to welcome new students to the University of Iceland. The week long programme takes place in the University centre (Háskólatorg) and begins on Monday 31 August. Around 3000 new students arrive on campus these days and the University strives to make them feel welcome and educate them about the University community.
Enlightenment, discourse and art at Equality Days 2015
02/10/2015 - 11:15
Refugee issues, the idea behind the #freethenipple campaign, islamophobia, brainwaste, sustainability as equality, and numerous educational and artistic events are part of the programme of Equality Days 2015. Equality days feature almost 30 events from 5 to 16 October in both the University of Iceland, and the Iceland Academy of the Arts.
Equality Days take place for the seventh time at the University of Iceland this autumn semester. The aim of Equality days is to raise awareness on issues of equality in a broad sense. This year the University collaborates with the Iceland Academy of the Arts, offering various events in both universities focusing on a range of issues, involving both staff and students and distinguished guests.
Wants to make fuel out of nothing
“The energy that comes from the sun and lands on an area in the size of the Sahara Desert would suffice to replace all other energy sources in the world. The problem, however, is to find matter that can absorb enough of the sunlight and transform electrical power into chemical energy.” This claim is made by Egill Skúlason, Assistant Professor and inventor at the University of Iceland. This may sound extremely complicated but what Skúlason intends to do is in fact to transform the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into fuel.
Skúlason has studied computer calculations that aim at changing carbon dioxide, sunlight and water into fuel, such as methanol or metane.
Magnificent antiquities could be hidden in the ocean
“The purpose of this project is to enhance the position of marine archaeology in Iceland, as the bottom of the ocean around Iceland has not been studied much with the intent of finding and studying your cultural and historical natural resource,” says the Irishman Kevin Martin, a doctoral student in Archaeology at the University of Iceland. He is currently working on developing and testing a predictive modelling survey methodology to locate submerged remains off in the Faxaflói region. This applies for the most part to shipwrecks.
“I have always been interested in combining my two passions: archaeology and diving. Marine Archaeology seems to be the perfect union,” says Martin, who is a professional diver.
Small states, big questions
“Small states must to team up more closely with each other in order for their voices to be heard. As our Scottish study shows, focusing on the common problems and possibilities of small states can help us to rise above the details of a particular nation's politics and look for logical solutions,” says Alyson J. K. Bailes, Adjunct at the Faculty of Political Science, but she has recently studied what would happen if Scotland became independent as a small state.
Looking for new solutions in consumer and home loan legislation
„The global economic crisis revealed considerable flaws in current regulations on consumer rights and financial services, both in the United States and Europe. Icelandic consumers have had difficulties with making payments on their debts since the economic collapse, especially on mortgage loans,” says Irina Domurath, PhD student on her thesis. Domurath is examining the European Union consumer law with regards to consumer- and home loans.