Information chaos, false news, dishonesty, lies. These are all words most of us have come across in recent years, especially in connection with political debate, but also the COVID-19 pandemic on the vast expanses of the internet. It has been asserted that elections have been won with information chaos, half truths and fake news so governments all over the world, including the Icelandic one, have formed committees, or even institutions, to tackle this threat - a product of the excessive and endless flow of information online.
This new reality is a big part of a research project called „Insincerity for Fragmented Minds“ (InFraMinds) conducted by Elmar Geir Unnsteinsson, research scientist at the University of Iceland and an associate professor at University College Dublin, with a large group of domestic and international collaborators.
In recent years, news and social media has been full of stories and posts about new destinations for tourists in Iceland. The trend has been particularly noticeable during the pandemic when Icelanders have been travelling domestically more than internationally. At the same time, foreign tourists have also discovered a lot that we have not noticed ourselves.
In 2020, huge numbers of people travelled to see Stuðlagil in East Iceland, a canyon formed by the river Jökulsá á Dal. Numerous photographs of the canyon starting appearing on social media during 2020 and continue to do so. The same thing happened with Fjaðrárgljúfur in South Iceland, which rocketed to fame after it featured in a number of photos and videos posted by the Canadian musician Justin Bieber.
Life expectancy in Iceland has been gradually rising in recent decades as society progresses in other areas. Data from Statistics Iceland show that on average, both men and women in Iceland can expect to live to over 80 years old, which is among the highest life expectancies in Europe. Furthermore, a child born today is more likely to see their 100th birthday than not. The ageing population has prompted scientists to start looking at various issues to do with rising numbers of elderly people in our society, including the impact on the social system and the healthcare system and ways to ensure that as many people as possible are able to grow old with dignity.
The vital knowledge created at the University of Iceland helps our society to tackle diverse challenges. These challenges include environmental and climate changes and natural disasters, as well as a variety of threats to human health and well-being, as it says in the Strategy for the University, UI26. Universities are sources of knowledge that play a key role in identifying solutions to the challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs.
Anyone who follows the news will have noticed an increase in the frequency of wildfires that threaten human lives and health, as well as damaging the environment, ecosystems and human infrastructure. Even in Iceland, wildfires have become a problem in a way that few people would have predicted.
The University of Iceland's Institute of International Affairs was recently awarded a grant for three million Euro (almost 420 million ISK) from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme for its research project Reclaiming Liberal Democracy in Europe in the Postfactual Age (RECLAIM). This is a three-year grant, and the aim of the project is to study the implications of post-truth politics on democracy in Europe. The Institute of International Affairs hosts the project, and it is led by Maximilian Conrad, professor at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Political Science.
Historically, the port in an Icelandic fishing village was often a ramshackle area built on a spit of land. It was also a vibrant hub of human activity, the heart of the village reflecting the prosperity of the community.
Since then, ports have developed into high-tech areas equipped with powerful, complex machinery and controlled by processes that ensure safety, optimal performance and efficiency. In recent years, ports have been required to meet higher standards with regard to adaptability and sustainability. This has meant that some ports have even been designated closed and secure industrial areas – no longer a destination for a Sunday stroll.
There is no need to explain the importance of improving treatments and prognoses for people who have suffered neck injuries in traffic collisions. These injuries are unfortunately very common and often cause significant pain and prevent people from working, studying or pursuing their hobbies. The cost is significant, not just for individuals, but also for society as a whole.
Research is currently being conducted at UI that looks at the effectiveness of a new treatment in physiotherapy and the use of new technology aimed precisely at people who have suffered neck injuries in traffic collisions. The aim is to improve the patients' well-being and reduce the costs of the injuries.
Even though birds are a prominent feature of Icelandic nature, there are species that are not often seen, in spite of the fact that their numbers are slowly growing. The Icelandic sea eagle is thus rarely seen; a species with a low population that has long been threatened with extinction. The sea eagle is now doing better now than in a long time. Owls are also seldom spotted, but two types of owls have succeeded in nesting in Iceland in recent years. It is a worthy question to find out why they are succeeding in Iceland now, however, owls are not easy birds to study. Their behaviour seems to be aimed at staying out of the limelight. “I love owls, and they constantly rekindle a spark that drives me to better understand their lives. When you look an owl in the eye you get a certain sense of mystery and wish to know more. Their secretive habits make it even more exciting!”