"I find it a remarkable time in Icelandic history when we start forming relationships with faraway lands. We have a long, intimate and successful history with our neighbouring countries, but it is not given to have good interactions with countries on the other side of the world like Japan. The Icelandic foreign service is formed late, as in the past we were a part of Denmark and for a long time Icelandic foreign service was limited. It was a big step in  Icelandic foreign affairs when Iceland began to do business and culture exchange with Japan, which later turned into diplomatic relations with this distant country." 

When Branislav Bédi was a university student in his home town in Nitra in Slovakia in the early years of the 21st century, he first heard of the Poetic Edda, which sparked a passion for the Icelandic language. Now, around 15 years later, he has a doctorate in second language studies from the University of Iceland and has devoted himself to spreading the Icelandic language across the world, for example with the help of computer technology. Indeed, this was the main topic of his doctoral thesis.

Branislav recently became the first student to complete a PhD in second language studies from the University of Iceland Faculty of Languages and Cultures. He has lived in Iceland in recent years and first came to the country in 2006. 

Ármann Höskuldsson is among the best known earth scientists in Iceland and often acts as a media spokesman in the event of a volcanic eruption or earthquake. Earthquakes are a serious phenomenon and so it is important to monitor the situation continuously. They are not only dangerous in and of themselves, but sometimes signal an imminent volcanic eruption. 

In recent months, seismic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula has been more significant than normal and few places in Iceland have been monitored so closely. The most dramatic seismic activity has been taking place around the mountain Þorbjörn, near Grindavík. Naturally, people are alarmed by earthquakes in this area. Almost right at the foot of the mountain are towns, harbours, industrial structures and major roads, as well as the largest airport in the country that guarantees air traffic to and from Iceland.