“We believe this a unique opportunity to answer important questions on the potential connection between common complications during pregnancy, and the neurological and educational development of children. ADHD is now one of the most common mental health problems in schoolchildren, with 5-10% of children combating symptoms of this problem. Finding risk factors is obviously a primary concern,” says Helga Zoëga, Associate Professor of Public Health Science. She is currently studying whether there is a connection between hypertension and diabetes in pregnant mothers, and the neurological and educational development of children, emphasizing Attention Deficiency and Hyperactivity Disorder; or ADHD as it is commonly known. 

“The aim of this project is to design a chemical plant that utilizes energy from geothermal energy plants in an economical manner to  binds carbon dioxide into valuable substances with the aid of algae,” says Sigurður Brynjólfsson, Professor. He leads a team of scientists that utilize so-called systems biology to harvest organisms for production of valuable products. “The design is based on light emitting diodes and biotechnology as well as utilising natural gas or carbon dioxide from geothermal areas.

“I find it both worthy and pressing to examine why we do not respond to the environmental crisis in a more responsible manner. The United Nations has even issued a decree stating that the environmental crisis is one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced,” says Ragna B. Garðarsdóttir, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Psychology.

She is currently working with Erla Hlín Helgadóttir, Master student in Environment and Natural Resources, on a questionnaire to evaluate the judgement errors and other fallacies that discourage a responsible position in environmental affairs or what is known as environmentally responsible behaviour. “I wrote my BA thesis in Psychology under Garðarsdóttir’s supervision and was very interested in continuing to work with her.” Human behaviour is an exciting subject and these studies combine psychology and environmental science in an interesting way,” says Helgadóttir.

Computers are more human than many realise. Human-computer interaction is researched within the field of computer science at the University of Iceland. It is an interdisciplinary field which connects computer science to other academic schools, supporting a better quality of life for disabled individuals in society. For the past few years, Ebba Þóra Hvannberg, Professor of Computer Science, has researched human-computer interaction. A touch cane for the blind is one of her research topics. The goal is to improve the communication between blind Fpeople and computers, for instance for the purpose of improving their access to mathematics. Ebba Þóra says this is an important step towards improving the quality of life for those who are blind.