Announcement from the Rector to University staff and students on 25 March:

"Dear students and staff,

Over the last few days my colleagues and I have met with the boards of all schools at the University to discuss the best ways to finish this semester in the difficult circumstances we now find ourselves in. Staff are working hard to resolve these questions. Faculties and teaching staff have been informing students of new arrangements for course assessment and will continue to do so over the next days. High on our list of concerns are those students who are under the most strain due to the current situation.

When tackling a major challenge, like the one facing us now, it is important to consider the perspectives of as many different people as possible. For this reason it has been essential to talk to faculty heads, teaching staff and students over the last few days. This helps us to get as clear an impression of the situation as possible.

The first unequivocal evidence of where the heaviest elements were forged has now been found by a large group of European-based astronomers. For the first time, an element heavier than iron has been clearly detected in the collision of two neutron stars, resolving one of the fundamental questions about the history of the universe.  Among the scientists in the research group is Kasper Elm Heintz who completed his doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Iceland last week. These ground-breaking results are published in the latest issue of Nature - International Journal of Science.