Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (5 March 2021):
"Dear students and colleagues.
It is difficult to express how wonderful it is to see the University campus filled with life again. Students have returned to University buildings and a growing number of courses are now taught on campus. Despite the advantages of distance learning, we must never forget that a university is a community and a source of innovation in every sense of the word. It is a place where people from different backgrounds come together to enjoy each other's company or exchange views, generating ideas that often lead to exploitation of new knowledge that benefits entire communities.
Although there has been more on-campus learning over the last few days, many courses are still taught remotely. I urge you, dear students, to stay up to date with changes to teaching arrangements by following announcements from schools, faculties, programmes and individual members of teaching staff. Efforts will be made to ensure that on-campus courses can also be accessed remotely, through livestreams or recordings.
The recent relaxation of restrictions has had an incredibly positive impact on the entire University community, but we must remember that a small mistake could be costly. It is vital that we respect the physical distancing rules and do what we can to prevent infection. The number of people in a room must not exceed 150 and facemasks are required wherever it is not possible to maintain a distance of 1 metre.
The state of uncertainty caused by seismic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula has had a profound effect on all of us living near the location of the earthquakes. It is natural to feel anxious in these circumstances, when the Department of Civil Protection has declared an alert phase in the capital region, Reykjanes and Árnessýsla. I encourage you, dear students and colleagues, to read over the information on the Department of Civil Protection website about prevention and preparedness for earthquakes.
There has hardly been a day over the last week that scientists from the University of Iceland have not appeared in the media, explaining and interpreting events related to the earthquakes and potential volcanic eruption on Reykjanes peninsula. The professional response of our scientists clearly illustrates the value of leading experts in the earth sciences. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the earth scientists at the University for their vital contributions to society and the public interest, with our safety as their primary concern.
Last weekend was the Digital University Day, which went extremely well. Thousands of people visited the University website to find out about the study programmes we offer and attended remote meetings to explore their options for higher education. I want to thank the huge number of students and staff who worked very hard to prepare for this important event and make it the success that it was.
The University of Iceland strives to ensure that knowledge creation at the University has a broad impact and that our work addresses contemporary challenges. Last weekend, a number of the University's scholars appeared in a livestreamed talk show that attracted a large audience. Topics of discussion included natural disasters, anxiety, public health, pandemics, inequality, climate change, sustainability, crime, the evolution of Icelandic, and innovation in teaching and culture. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the show.
The days are now rapidly lengthening and the spring equinox is approaching. In times of uncertainty, we should turn our thoughts to the spring that is just around the corner and stay positive as best we can. Let's look out for one another.
Have a good weekend.
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"