The annual University Day takes place on Saturday 27 February between 12 - 4 P.M., this year entirely online due to restrictions on gatherings. This day guests get the opportunity to talk to students and teachers in each and every programme in undergraduate studies at the University of Iceland in open online meetings on whatever concerns the programme. The University will, furthermore, broadcast live from the Aula where research scientists discuss their studies and social issues; showing a different side than usually in the media.
All universities in Iceland have organised the University Day together for a few years now, but in light of the restrictions on gatherings currently in place in Iceland due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was decided to have a digital day this year. Graduate studies at the University of Iceland will be introduced on a separate occasion in March.
During the Digital University Day all programmes at the University of Iceland will have their own online meeting and participants can join at any time between noon and 4 P.M. This provides guests with the opportunity to attend as many online meeting as they like, seeking answers to their questions and discussing the programmes they are interested in. There is currently an overview of all university studies in Iceland on the University Day website. Visitors can explore and look for programmes in a powerful search engine. With one click the user moves over to the programme page on the University's own website and from there to an online meeting in the programme or programme of interest.
This is an excellent opportunity to get to know the diverse programmes on offer at the University of Iceland in undergraduate studies and have a conversation with those who know each programme best.
During the Digital University Day representatives will be available from the Student Counselling and Career Centre, International Division, Student Registration, Student Council and Icelandic Student Services that run Student Housing, kindergartens, canteens and more.
Science plainly put broadcast live from the Aula
Academics will, furthermore, answer questions live from the University's Aula on the Digital University Day. This is a talk show, Science Plainly Put (Vísindi á mannamáli - https://livestream.com/hi/visindiamannamali) with discussions on current affairs, the challenges we face today, and research in a wide sense; combined with a personal side of the research scientists.
The broadcast will be live between 1 and 3.30 P.M.
The interviewees are from all of the University's five Schools in addition to Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector, and Isabel Alejandra Dias, president of the Student Council. They are some of the most celebrated research scientists in Iceland; in addition to Jón Atli and Isabel: Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Sigrún Ólafsdóttir, Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir, Eyvindur G. Gunnarsson, Helgi Gunnlaugsson, Urður Njarðvík, Thor Aspelund, Andri Steinþór Björnsson, Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir, Ingileif Jónsdóttir, Ármann Jakobsson, Rósa Signý Gísladóttir, Guðmundur Hálfdanarson, Guðrún Nordal, Hanna Ragnarsdóttir, Kristín Jónsdóttir, Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, Rögnvaldur Jóhann Sæmundsson, Gunnar Þór Hallgrímsson, and Halldór Pálmar Halldórsson.
The hosts are Jón Örn Guðbjartsson, Head of the Division of Marketing and Public Relations, and Björn Gíslason, Web editor and manager of communications.
Segments shedding light on the importance of information technology in today's scientific work will be aired between interviews.