Three people from UI awarded the Order of the Falcon on New Year's Day

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, Hrafnhildur Ragnarsdóttir, professor emerita at the University of Iceland School of Education, and Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir, lecturer at the same School, have been honoured for their contributions to education and science with the Icelandic Order of the Falcon, presented at a formal ceremony at Bessastaðir on New Year's Day. A total of 14 Icelanders received the award this year. 

Jón Atli Benediktsson received the Order for his contribution to international science and innovation in the field of remote sensing and digital image analysis and his service to higher education.

Jón Atli completed a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Iceland in 1984, an MSEE from Purdue University in the US in 1987 and a PhD in electrical engineering from the same university in 1990. He began working as a lecturer in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Iceland the following year and was promoted to senior lecturer in 1994 and professor in 1996. He was the pro-rector for science and teaching at the University of Iceland and director of the Graduate School 2009-2015, chair of the University Council Science Committee 1999-2005 and chair of the University Council Quality Committee 2006-2015.

Jón Atli, who has served as Rector of the University of Iceland since 2015, is the author of over 400 articles and chapters on electrical and computer engineering and numbers among the top scientists in the world in remote sensing. Remote sensing involves taking digital images from planes, drones and satellites and analysing them to acquire various information about the surface of the earth. Jón Atli's work is much cited and he has received a number of awards for his research, on both the international and domestic stage.

More on Jón Atli's scientific career

Hrafnhildur Ragnarsdóttir, professor emerita at the University of Iceland School of Education, received the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon for her research and sharing of knowledge on linguistics, language use, and the development of language and literacy in children. 

Hrafnhildur has completed BA degrees from both Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota and Université d'Aix-Marseille in France. Hrafnhildur also completed a Master's degree in psychology from the latter university in 1974 and a PhD in the same subject from the same university in 1990.

Hrafnhildur has been working as an academic since 1976, first at the Iceland University of Education and then the School of Education. She has held a number of positions of responsibility for the Iceland University of Education during her career. For example, she served on the University Council for a long time, was pro-rector, and founded and directed the University's first research centre. She was also a longstanding member of the boards for the Icelandic Centre for Research, ESF and NorFa. 

After the merging of the Iceland University of Education and UI, Hrafnhildur founded the Research centre for child and adolescent development, language and literacy. She has spent long periods abroad at foreign universities and has played a leading role in developmental and psycholinguistics research here in Iceland. Hrafnhildur is a prolific academic and has published a huge number of articles in Icelandic and international journals and books.

Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir, lecturer at the University of Iceland School of Education, received the Icelandic Order of the Falcon for her contribution to women's football and anti-bullying campaigns.

Vanda completed a Master's degree in education studies from the University of Iceland in 2003 and is currently studying for a PhD in social work at the University, focusing on the topic of bullying. For decades, she has numbered among Iceland's leading experts in this area and has worked with schools, municipalities and others to eradicate this scourge on our society. Vanda has previously received awards for her work in anti-bullying policy and communication. She is also one of the owners of the company KVAN,which specialises in training social, communication, leadership and friendship skills.

Vanda was previously among the top Icelandic sportswomen and has played for her country in both football and basketball. She also worked as a football coach for around three decades and became the first woman to coach a men's team in Iceland in 2001.

The University of Iceland offers Jón Atli, Hrafnhildur and Vanda heartfelt congratulations on receiving the Order of the Falcon.