University representative in Fulbright Arctic Initiative III
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, professor at the University of Iceland Faculty of Political Science, and Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, head of the faculty of Panning & Design at The Agricultural University of Iceland, have been selected for participation in Fulbright Arctic Initiative III (FAI), the Fulbright flagship in the field of Arctic research. The selection was in the joint hands of the boards of the Fulbright foundation in Iceland and in the United States.
This is the third cohort in the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, aimed at strengthening international scientific collaboration on Arctic issues. FAI supports interdisciplinary collaboration where issues relevant to Arctic nations are studied in a comprehensive manner. Emphasis is placed on applied research that can prove useful in tackling collective challenges. This is an eighteen-month project that begins in spring 2021 with the participation of eighteen academics and research scientists from Arctic council countries. FAI is a unique opportunity for international collaboration in Arctic research as participants strengthen their social network, visit selected areas in the Arctic, and work on both individual studies and joint projects. Iceland has appointed a single beneficiary in former FAI cohorts; but due to a contribution from the Ministries of Education, Science and Culture; Environment and Natural Resources; and Foreign Affairs, Iceland got to appoint two in this third cohort.
The work takes place in three work groups; each with different emphasis: Arctic Security and Cooperation; Arctic Infrastructure in a Changing Environment, and Community Dimensions of Health. Silja Bára has been assigned to group one and Sigríður group two.
Both of these academics have contributed greatly to the University community in recent years. They have extensive experience of international research collaboration, have been on numerous committees, and their body of works is impressive.
Silja Bára completed her doctoral studies in political science from the University College Cork in 2018 and was promoted to professor at the University of Iceland earlier this year. She is, furthermore, research director at Höfði Reykavík, and University of Iceland Peace Centre. Silja Bára's study within FAI will focus on issues concerning peace in a wide context and from the point-of-view of the inhabitant in the Arctic region.
Sigríður completed her PhD in environmental science in 2007 from the University of Birmingham. She started working at the Agricultural University of Iceland in 2004, and accepted a position as head of faculty earlier this year. Sigríður's research project focuses on sustainable development in the Arctic region with emphasis on planning and land use.
Further information on the Fulbright Arctic Initative can be found here:
www.fulbright.is/fulbright-arctic-initiative-iii/
www.cies.org/arctic
