When pregnant women suffer from nausea, they are often advised to try ginger as a home remedy. But could too much ginger affect the pregnancy? Þórhallur Ingi Halldórsson, professor at the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Iceland, is now investigating this question with a study entitled: "The use of ginger supplements in pregnancy: Benefit or risk?"
While Iceland currently ranks nr.1 in the world in gender equality, a newly released study found that one third of women in Iceland have been subjected to workplace sexual harassment or violence during their lifetime. These findings are published in the latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet Public Health. Women working as public figures and in tourism present with the greatest risk of sexual harassment and violence at their current workplace.
The study was conducted in a subsample of the SAGA Cohort, one of the largest cohorts in the world assessing the impact of stressful life events on women’s health under the leadership of scientists at the University of Iceland. The current study includes 15,799 women representative of the working-aged female population in Iceland and who answered an extensive electronic survey e.g. on sexual harassment and violence in their work environment and work sectors.
Ph.D. student: Kristbjörg Anna Þórarinsdóttir
Dissertation title: The order in disorder: Magnetism in amorphous cobalt-based thin films and heterostructures
Opponents:
Dr. Eric Fullerton, Professor at the University of California San Diego, USA
Dr. Sarah Thompson, Professor at the University of York, UK
Advisor: Dr. Friðrik Magnus, Professor at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland
Doctoral committee:
Dr. Snorri Þorgeir Ingvarsson, Professor at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland
Dr. Björgvin Hjörvarsson, Professor at Uppsala University, Sweden
Chair of Ceremony: Dr. Einar Örn Sveinbjörnsson, Professor and the Head of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland
Preliminary results from a new academic study at the Faculty of Law indicate that age and gender of judges and lawyers may affect the results of court cases. Valgerður Sólnes, associate professor at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Law is working on the study and says that the idea came to her and Benedikt Bogason professor and chief justice of the supreme court. "We then got Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, professor and pro-rector for science, to join us, as the study is interdisciplinary in the fields of law and social sciences.
People who became seriously ill with COVID-19 are at increased risk of developing symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress following recovery. Similar trends have been detected in those who have been in quarantine or have relatives who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
These are the initial findings of the COVID-19 National Resilience Cohort study, launched this spring by scientists at the University of Iceland, Landspítali University Hospital and the Directorate of Health. The study is now continuing, with both former and new participants invited to share their experiences of the pandemic.
People's attitudes towards environmental issues appear to have little impact on the way they travel, according to the findings of recent research. "What we have seen, in both Helsinki and Reykjavík, is that attitudes towards environmental issues do not have a significant impact on how often people travel abroad or whether they drive or cycle to work. Those who live most centrally cause less pollution on a day-to-day basis by cycling, walking or taking the bus, compared to those living in the suburbs. But this is reversed when it comes to international travel, because those living centrally go abroad more than those living in the suburbs. Over a year, the carbon footprint from international travel is, on average, much higher than from driving a car," says Áróra Árnadóttir, PhD student at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Áróra Árnadóttir, PhD student at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
People's attitudes towards environmental issues appear to have little impact on the way they travel, according to the findings of recent research. "What we have seen, in both Helsinki and Reykjavík, is that attitudes towards environmental issues do not have a significant impact on how often people travel abroad or whether they drive or cycle to work. Those who live most centrally cause less pollution on a day-to-day basis by cycling, walking or taking the bus, compared to those living in the suburbs. But this is reversed when it comes to international travel, because those living centrally go abroad more than those living in the suburbs. Over a year, the carbon footprint from international travel is, on average, much higher than from driving a car," says Áróra Árnadóttir, PhD student at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Nine in ten graduated university students believe that knowledge and experience acquired in their Erasmus+ exchange programmes are useful in their current work. This is among key findings in a new study on the impact of Erasmsus+ on the university community. The findings thus support earlier studies showing the positive impact of Erasmus+ in students' lives and work. The findings furthermore show that Erasmus+ boosts innovation and equal opportunities within the university community.
The number of students at the University of Iceland who have opted to do Erasmus+ traineeships abroad has multiplied, whereas the number of exchange students remains stable. The study shows 40% who did an Erasmus+ traineeship abroad were hired or offered a job position by their host company.
Mushrooms are a delicacy but it is better to know the good from the bad and the poisoned! The University of Iceland and the Children touring Association offer their annual hiking trip with science tips to Heiðmörk to gather and study mushrooms on Saturday 1 September. The hike has become a part of autumn activities for families to enjoy nature and the beauty in Heiðmörk, whilst learning about Icelandic fungi. It is vital to be completely sure which mushrooms can be gathered and which not.
Gísli Már Gíslason, professor in biology at the University of Iceland leads the hike with students who have specialised in Icelandic mushrooms.