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Research into the experiences of immigrants in Iceland during the pandemic

22/12/2022 - 08:15

"There is very little research on immigrants as a group here in Iceland. We decided to look into how they felt during the COVID-19 pandemic, since there is already a lot of data about how Icelanders felt during the pandemic and their attitudes toward the public health restrictions and vaccinations," says Katrín Lea Elenudóttir, political science student. This study, which received support from the Student Innovation Fund, was completed last summer and looked at the experiences of immigrants in Iceland during the pandemic. Katrín worked under the supervision of Hulda Þórisdóttir, senior lecturer at the University of Iceland Faculty of Political Science. 

Discovered the toughest material in the natural world while researching spiders

"It's a great misconception that spiders are dangerous or troublesome at all. They get rid of all kinds of pests for us," says Ingi Agnarsson, lecturer in zoology at the University of Iceland. Ingi has around 30 years of experience researching these eight-legged creatures all over the world and has discovered a huge number of new species. He also researches spider silk and discovered the toughest and most elastic material in the natural world – the silk of the Darwin's bark spider, which he and his colleague named in honour of Charles Darwin 150 years after the publication of his famous work On the Origin of Species.

What are the causes of decreasing fertility rates in Iceland?

30/01/2023 - 08:20

Young women in Iceland experience anxiety in parenthood, and do not see how they are to live up to the ever increasing demands made on women in a society characterised by materialism, individualism and the imminent threat of climate change. At the same time, there is greater understanding in the community than before that people might choose to reject parenthood, even though women still experience hostile reactions due to such decisions. These are some of the findings in an extensive project conducted by an interdisciplinary group of academics at the University of Iceland. They seek to understand the causes for the reducing fertility rates in Iceland, and whether there is something in Icelandic policy making and parenting culture that contributes to this.

Doctoral defence in Biology - Pauline Anne Charlotte Bergsten

12. September 2022 - 10:00 to 13:00

Aðalbygging

The Aula

Ph.D. student: Pauline Anne Charlotte Bergsten

Dissertation title: Exploration of the Microbial Communities within the Basaltic Subsurface of the Volcanic Island Surtsey in Iceland

Opponents: 
Dr. Steffen L. Jørgensen, Associate Professor at the University of Bergen, Norway
Dr. Oddur Þ. Vilhelmsson, Professor at the University of Akureyri

Advisor: Dr.Viggó Þór Marteinsson, Professor at the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition , University of Iceland and Research Group Leader at Matís

Doctoral committee: Dr. Pauline Vannier, Project Manager at Matís  
Dr. Snædís H. Björnsdóttir, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences ,University of Iceland

Chair of Ceremony: Dr. Snæbjörn Pálsson, Professor and Head of the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland

SYMPOSIUM: The Problem of Existence, Delirium and Revolutionary Love

12. September 2022 - 16:00 to 18:30

Time and Place: 12. september 2022 kl. 16:00 – 18:30 í Háskólanum í Reykjavík, stofa M209. The symposium is in English.

The Department of Business Administration at Reykjavík University and The Institute of Philosophy at the University of Iceland invite you to a symposium engaging with the ideas of the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze (1925–1995). The influence of Deleuze's ideas can be felt across the humanities, social sciences and arts, including literature, film, feminism, architecture, organization studies and entrepreneurship.

At the symposium, two internationally renowned scholars, Prof. Ian Buchanan and Assoc. Prof. Janae Sholtz, engage with selected concepts from Deleuze and his collaborator, Félix Guattari (1930–1992), in the context of affect theory and feminism.

Find additional information about the content of lectures and the two researchers below.     

Additional information

Topics of lectures

Academy for Woman Entrepreneurs – prizes awarded for best business plans

10/05/2022 - 13:46

Projects related to sustainable use of materials, transportation, sustainable farming, support for artists, green consumerism, and an online initiative to prevent violence were selected as the best ideas in the AWE programme, which is organised by the University of Iceland in partnership with the American Embassy in Iceland. The programme formally ended on 6 May and the winners were awarded prize money totalling ISK 2.2 million. 

Discovered the toughest material in the natural world while researching spiders

01/06/2022 - 08:51

"It's a great misconception that spiders are dangerous or troublesome at all. They get rid of all kinds of pests for us," says Ingi Agnarsson, lecturer in zoology at the University of Iceland. Ingi has around 30 years of experience researching these eight-legged creatures all over the world and has discovered a huge number of new species. He also researches spider silk and discovered the toughest and most elastic material in the natural world – the silk of the Darwin's bark spider, which he and his colleague named in honour of Charles Darwin 150 years after the publication of his famous work On the Origin of Species.

Education is the cornerstone of freedom and prosperity

27/06/2022 - 14:35

"Education is not only a powerful tool it is also the cornerstone of freedom and prosperity. I hope that you, dear graduates, will use the powers of your education and the knowledge it has brought you for good; contributing to prosperity and peace wherever your endeavours may take you in years to come."

So said Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland on Saturday at the graduation of 2,594 candidates from both undergraduate- and graduate studies.  Students graduated from all five University schools. 
Jón Atli said that even though Icelanders are an independent nation all the world's nations form one humanity. "No nation stands alone, we have to work together as one."  

We must defend the values we hold most dear

11/03/2022 - 11:20

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (11 March 2022):

"Every country needs a university that delves into the spirit of that nation: its history and culture, human connections with the society, ecosystems and environment. We often look to convince people, not least ourselves, that research needs some practical application, but we must not forget that university research has intrinsic value. Scholarship in and of itself changes us, changes the world. Knowledge is the foundation of wellbeing and fosters democracy. 

"Science furthers all great deeds, strengthens the spirit, sharpens the mind, kindles hope." 

Major grant for further research on multiple myeloma

17/03/2022 - 10:55

Sigurður Yngvi Kristinsson, professor of hematology at the University of Iceland Faculty of Medicine and specialist at Landspítali University Hospital, has been awarded a grant of EUR 2 million, the equivalent of around ISK 290 million, from the European Research Council (ERC) in order to focus on smoldering myeloma in the project iStopMM – a national initiative to combat multiple myeloma. Over 3,600 people have been diagnosed with a multiple myeloma precursor condition. A drug trial for patients diagnosed with more a advanced condition has yielded extremely promising results. Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer of the bone marrow. The cancer has certain precursor conditions: monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), which can be easily detected with a simple blood test. The chances of MGUS developing into SMM are low, but the chances of SMM developing into multiple myeloma are very high.

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