Prof. Peter Bergsten, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University and adjunct professor at Uppsala University Children´s Hospital, Sweden and Dr. Hjalti Kristinsson, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
Title: Mechanisms of type-2-diabetes development during childhood and adolescent obesity
In recent years scholars, artists and scientists have been exploring "how matter comes to matter" through what is called new materialism. The material, objective world is not a mute or a passive canvas for human life to act upon but full of diverse kinds of active meaning-making to be found within and between e.g. ecosystems, neurotransmissions, plants or animals. Objecting to the human-centric approach which limits agency and relationality to the social lives of humans, new materialist scholars do radically interdisciplinary research in order to respond to the current economic, ecological and political crises. Stock market crashes, earthquakes and the increasing complexification of political and social systems (and their breakdowns) demonstrate not only that a new epistemic perspective is needed but that we need to collaborate in affirmative ways over traditional disciplinary lines.
A new substance processed from marine organisms that significantly inhibits inflammation received this year UI Applied Science Prize. Two other projects were rewarded. One is developing interactive exhibitions on elves and other mythical creatures, and the other on interactive work environment with a view to simplifying and facilitating collaboration on software development. The prize money is a total of 3.5 million ISK.
This was the 19th time that the prize was presented. The aim of the prize is to bring out utilizable ideas from students and staff at the University of Iceland and affiliated institutes. Diverse projects from different fields of study have in recent years received a prize and this year is no exception.
The Icelandic fox is without a doubt one of the most controversial domestic animals. Even though it existed in Iceland before the settlement and is the only terrestrial mammal that has come to Iceland without the help of man; it is not respected for this; as one might believe. The fox can be killed on sight in most places except in Hornstrandir. Few animals in Iceland have as many names as this tough canine mammal which may possible be traced to the fact that people hesitated to utter the devil’s name. The most common words are of course fox (refur) and vixen (tófa) but other exist that are less flattering like laggard and devil (in Icelandic: dratthali, gortanni, lágfóta, melrakki, skaufhali, skolli and vemma)