Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (8 April 2022):
"Dear students and colleagues,
Over the past few days, we have seen winter giving way to spring. The first dandelions are showing their yellow heads and in sunny spots we see the green of the new spring grass. Today is indeed officially the last day of winter and before we know it, the country will be adorned with the glorious greenery of summer, as Margrét Jónsson wrote in her ode to Iceland and the Icelandic language. Margrét studied at the Iceland University of Education and qualified as a teacher in 1926, placing her among the ever-swelling ranks of those who have educated themselves to the benefit of Icelandic society.
Although the University of Iceland is open and international, it is our duty to protect the Icelandic language, which Margrét called our most precious inheritance. The strategy of the University of Iceland places emphasis on strengthening the Icelandic language in a changing world. But Icelandic is not the only language that needs support in the context of rapid global technological advances. At the UN General Assembly in 2019, the decade 2022-2032 was declared the international decade of indigenous languages, in order to raise awareness of the shocking decline of these languages and the urgent need to protect and strengthen them. We are particularly delighted, therefore, to announce that the opening ceremony for the international decade of indigenous languages will be held here at UI this Friday. Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Culture and Business Affairs, will give a speech and the recipients of the Vigdís Prize will take part in a panel discussion. The Vigdís Prize has been presented annually since 2020 to individuals who have pursued new and original cultural, and especially linguistic, paths in their work.
Friday will also mark the tenth anniversary of the University of Iceland Biomedical Centre, which has been responsible for outstanding and innovative basic research in the life sciences, working across schools and other units at UI and collaborating closely with other universities, research centres and businesses.
Research is the foundation of progress and knowledge is our most reliable asset as we look to the future. A major part of the University of Iceland's mission is to raise awareness of research and its importance for society, the environment and biodiversity. Now as the spring returns, so too do the migratory birds and the sound of birdsong on the moors and in the trees, which is such a quintessential feature of the Icelandic summer. Our strategy, UI26, includes a special focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which among other issues address the fight against climate disasters. Scientists at the University of Iceland have shown that birds have adapted their behaviour in response to climate change. Bird research is important not only because it provides information about the health of individual populations, but also because it gives us clues about the status and development of entire ecosystems. On Saturday, the University of Iceland will be offering a birdwatching tour in Grafarvogur organised in collaboration with the Icelandic Touring Association. Participants will have the chance to learn more about the huge number of bird species that spend the summer here in Iceland. Coincidentally, the birdwatching tour will take place on the birthday of the Nobel Prize winning author Halldór Laxness, who wrote about better times with flowers in the meadow, long sweet summer days, and birdsong, which has such a special place in our hearts in Iceland.
Dear students and colleagues, This semester has been a tricky one for most of us and at times very challenging, but your resilience has paid dividends. Teaching is almost over for this academic year and it will soon be time for exam revision and final projects, time for you to harvest the fruits of your labour. I wish you all the very best with the important work that lies ahead. There is certainly a lot of pressure at this time of year, but we mustn't forget to make the most of the springtime with all its light and glorious colours. Remember to look up from your books every so often and take a moment to notice the days growing ever longer as we approach the season of the midnight sun.
Happy summer!
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"