Doctoral candidate Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir’s research on the arctic fox have become renowned in Iceland. Another mammal, much smaller, is the main subject of her doctoral studies: the field mouse. Unnsteinsdóttir is following in the footsteps of the late Páll Hersteinsson, Professor at the University of Iceland; a great pioneer in research on these two species. Hersteinsson was Unnsteinsdóttir’s supervisor until his death in 2011. 

“Field mice can be found all over the country. They probably came to Iceland with humans in the 10th century”, says Unnsteinsdóttir about this tiny rodent. “Iceland marks the northern boundary for the species, lacking its main habitats, i.e. forested areas with large seeds such as acorns and beech seeds. The mice are nevertheless hardy, and the only rodent that survives through the year in nature.”

Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir, Assistant Professor of Leisure and Social Studies, is currently working on a multi-national study of women’s football in Iceland and elsewhere in the Nordic countries in association with Erlingur Jóhannsson, Professor of Sport and Health Studies at the University of Iceland. Football is no stranger to Sigurgeirsdóttir; she played for years in the Premier League and she has trained the national team as well as premier league clubs with good results.

“The aim of this research is to acquire knowledge on how migrant work in football creates new challenges and opportunities for the organization of sports in the Nordic area,” says Sigurgeirsdóttir. The project is quite extensive and will stretch over a three year period. A number of individuals are involved; a Post-Doctoral candidate and Doctoral students from Denmark and Sweden as well as two Master’s candidates from the University of Iceland.