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Tag: University of Akureyri

  • Nansen scholarship deadline extended

    Nansen scholarship deadline extended

    University of Akureyri

    Nansen Visiting Professorship in Arctic Studies extended application deadline to the 15th July.

    The University of Akureyri in Iceland is now seeking candidates for the 2nd appointment for the Nansen Visiting Professorship in Arctic Studies.

    The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Akureyri in September 2011 for the purpose of strengthening cooperation between Iceland and Norway in the field of Arctic scientific research, including the establishment of a Nansen Professorship in Arctic studies at the University of Akureyri, named after the Norwegian polar scientist Fridtjof Nansen.

    The post of visiting professorship in Arctic studies at the University of Akureyri is available for application. It is awarded for a twelve months period to a leading scientist – each year to candidates from different fields of studies – working with issues that bear on legal, economic, social and natural circumstances in the Arctic.

    Application deadline has now been extended to the 15th of July 2013. For more information about the scholarship, click here.

    Source

    University of Akureyri

  • Coastal tourism: questions and answers

    Coastal tourism: questions and answers

    Marine & Coastal Culture Tourism in Northern Territories

    Conference that focused on the fishing environment in northern territories took place in the University of Akureyri, 18 – 19 June 2013. The conference was organized by the Stefansson Arctic Institute in collaboration with the University of Akureyri Research Center, NORA, the Iclandic Tourism Research Center, Norwegian Seafood Center and the Icelandic Lighthouse Society.

    Marine and coastal culture tourism is growing in popularity in various ways. Some tourists want to learn about life in coastal villages, experience nature and tranquility as well as the wilderness. Others want to experience the excitement of driving charter boats, diving, surfing, go speed boating or hiring a boat and try their luck at fishing. Then there are those who want to sail from port to port and country to country on board gigantic cruise ships.

    How does this fit in with cultural heritage, everyday life, social development, self-sufficiency, fishing quotas and environmental policies of the Nordic nations? How can the Nordic nations collaborate in this area? Do these diverse aspects of tourism have collaborative opportunities? These challenges were discussed at the conference where further questions were pondered through group work and perhaps more answers and collaborative possibilities found.

    Source

    Stefansson Arctic Institute

  • Nansen´s scholarship now available

    Nansen´s scholarship now available

    University of Akureyri

    Nansen Visiting Professorship in Arctic Studies at the University of Akureyri is now open for applications.

    The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Akureyri in September 2011 for the purpose of strengthening cooperation between Iceland and Norway in the field of Arctic scientific research, including the establishment of Nansen Professorship in Arctic studies at the University of Akureyri, named after the Norwegian polar scientist, Fridtjof Nansen.

    The post of visiting professorship in Arctic studies at the University of Akureyri is available for application. It is awarded for twelve months period to a leading scientist – each year to candidates from different fields of studies – working with issues that bear on legal, economic, social and natural circumstances in the Arctic. Application deadline is the 1st of July 2013.

    For more information and to apply for the professorship, please visit the webpage of University of Akureyri.

    Source

    University of Akureyri

  • Growth of Icelandic – Arctic network

    Growth of Icelandic – Arctic network

    University of Akureyri, Iceland

    Today, 7th of May the representatives from newly established Icelandic – Arctic Chamber of Commerce: Haraldur Ingi Birgisson and Ragnar Þorvarðarson will be present at the University of Akureyri in order to discuss important Arctic – related matters.

    The representatives will establish network connection with Arctic – related organizations from northern part of Iceland in order to better fulfil the role of newly established Icelandic – Arctic Chamber of Commerce.

    A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of an Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce (IACC) was signed Wednesday, 24 April, by the Icelandic Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

    The establishment of the IACC presents a milestone in the implementation of Iceland’s Arctic Policy, the goal of the present project being to develop and strengthen economic cooperation within the Arctic region, endeavoring to secure Icelandic competitiveness with regard to business opportunities emerging with increased economic activity in the Arctic.

    The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will operate similarly to bilateral Chambers of Commerce already active under ICC’s wing, creating a platform for connections between enterprises and companies all over Iceland, stakeholders in the increased economic activities in the Arctic region, as well as serving as an information center for arctic issues.

    The IACC will furthermore work closely with Icelandic authorities, Universities and research forums as well as other interested parties, to encourage lucrative, yet responsible harnessing of business opportunities in the Arctic, for the long term benefit of the Icelandic economy as well as for the Icelandic society in general.

    The present initiative creates an important venue for cooperation between Icelandic businesses and parties specialized in Arctic affairs, and not least an international cooperation network. The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will be formally launched at a meeting mid-May, where a board of directors will be chosen to further the project.

    Source

    Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs

  • Anthony Speca gives a lecture in Akureyri

    Anthony Speca gives a lecture in Akureyri

    Antony Speca

    Today, 18th of April at the University of Akureyri in northern Iceland, Anthony Speca gave speech on Nunavut, Greenland and politics of resource revenues. Another lecture from The Arctic Lecture series, organised by the University of Akureyri, touched upon economic situation in Canadian North and Greenland. Mr Speca highlighted that the idea that Nunavut could one day put more into Confederation than it takes out is not a flight of fancy.

    Nunavut’s entire 2011-12 territorial formula financing grant of about $1.2 billion is less than half of the resource income that Newfoundland and Labrador, the newest net-contributing of “have” province, is projected to collect the same year.

    If self-reliance is truly Nunavut’s aim in negotiatingdevolution, then it seems sensible for Nunavut to align. Co nceptually the fiscal self-reliance it will gain from a share of resource revenues with the political self-reliance it will gain from more province-like power over resource development.

    Anthony Speca is founder and Managing Principal of Polar Aspect, a Nunavut-based consultancy dedicated to public policy, government strategy and economic negotiation in the Canadian and circumpolar North.

    Borgir Research Center in Akureyri

    He has advised government on fiscal policy and the devolution of lands and resources, particularly fiscal federalism and resource-revenue sharing.

    As a columnist for Northern Public Affairs magazine, Anthony also writes on international politics and economics in the Arctic, and its implications for Canada. Anthony is a trained negotiator and accredited mediator, with a special focus on negotiations and disputes involving government, indigenous peoples, or rural or resource-based business.

    Anthony trained as a negotiator at the London School of Economics and Political Science and was accredited as a mediator in both the UK and USA in 2013. Anthony obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1999.

    His research culminated in his book, Hypothetical Syllogistic and Stoic Logic (Brill 2001).

    For more detailed information about the politics of resource revenues of these northern terretories, plese see the Speca’s report here.

    Source

    UNAK

  • Invitation to Iceland

    Invitation to Iceland

    Northern Iceland

    Marine and Coastal Culture Tourism in Northern Territories – Akureyri Iceland – 18-19th June

    A conference that will focus on the fishing environment in northern territories will take place in the University of Akureyri, 18-19 June 2013. The conference is organised by the Stefansson Arctic Institute in collaboration with the University of Akureyri Research Centre, NORA, the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, Norwegian Seafood Centre and the Icelandic Lighthouse Society.

    Marine and coastal culture tourism is growing in popularity in various ways. Some tourists want to learn about life in coastal villages, experience nature and tranquility as well as the wilderness. Others want to experience the excitement of driving charter boats, diving, surfing, go speedboating or hiring a boat and try their luck at fishing. Then there are those who want to sail from port to port and country to country on board gigantic cruise ships.

    How does this fit in with cultural heritage, everyday life, social development, self sufficiency, fishing quotas and environmental policies of the Nordic nations? How can the Nordic nations collaborate in this area? Do these diverse aspects of tourism have collaborative opportunities? These challenges will be discussed at the conference where further questions will be pondered through group work and perhaps more answers and collaborative possibilites found.

    Skogafoss in the south of Iceland

    The main workshop themes will be how we meet the challenges of:

    • The development of marine and coastal culture tourism in Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
    • Opportunities and threats, self sufficiency and environment – the effect of marine and coastal culture tourism and the image of the Northern Territories.
    • In what areas can we collaborate?

    There will also be excursions where tourism related businesses and museums will be visited.

    See the conference program.

    The conference is open to all but registration is needed for planning purposes.

    Registration deadline: 10 May 2013

    Conference fee: ISK 12000 / DKK 545

    Registration & hotel bookings (limited vacancy): conference@aktravel.is, tel. +354 4600600

    For further information contact Sigurbjörg Árnadóttir: sibba@svs.is.

    Source

    Stefansson Arctic Institute

  • Polar Law studies open for application

    Polar Law studies open for application

    Students at the University of Akureyri

    The University of Akureyri has now opened an online application form for the 2013-2014 application round in the Polar Law Program.

    The University of Akureyri is offering the following studies in Polar Law:

    • a 120 ECTS Master Programme leading to a M.A. degree
    • a 90 ECTS Master Programme leading to a LL.M. degree
    • a 60 ECTS study at the master level leading to a graduate diploma

    All courses in Polar Law are taught in English.

    Application deadlines for degree seeking students (Polar law):

    1st of April (NON-EU/EEA RESIDENTS)

    5th June (EU/EEA RESIDENTS)

    More information can be found here.

    Source

    UNAK

  • Nansen-position in Akureyri advertised

    Nansen-position in Akureyri advertised

    Nansen position advertisment

    The University of Akureyri has advertised a new guest professor position according a memorandum of understanding signed last year.

    The MoU was signed by foreign ministers Össur Skarphéðinsson of Iceland and Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway concerning co-operation in the field of Arctic scientific research, including the establishment of a Nansen Professorship in Arctic Studies at the University of Akureyri.

    The Professorship is named after the famous Norwegian polar scientist and humanist Fridtjof Nansen and is awarded each year for twelve months period to a world leading scientist working with issues that bear on the legal, economic, social and natural circumstances in Arctic studies.

    “The successful candidate should have a PhD (or equivalent experience) with a strong academic background in Arctic studies relevant to legal issues as well as sustainable human development in the Arctic regions. The Candidate should be experienced in working across disciplines with complex human-environmental-social issues and should have strong communicative and social/interpersonal skills. Research experience relating to the Arctic and a track of participation in international research networks will be necessary as well as a proven ability to obtain research grants,” the UNAK website reads.

    Primary responsibilities will be:

    • To contribute to the research, teaching and further development of relevant programs at the University of Akureyri
    • to work closely with other researchers in furthering the Northern research and teaching milieu at the University of Akureyri and contribute to the development of the University of the Arctic
    • to give public lectures on Arctic Issues in local, national and international forum and to participate in the contemporary debate on changes in the arctic.

    Applications are open until 15th of August.

    Sources

    Fréttablaðið newspaper

    UNAK website

  • Arctic Portal and Bioviversity in Arctic waters site opens

    Arctic Portal and Bioviversity in Arctic waters site opens

    Arctic Portal news

    Arctic Portal is proud to introduce its latest project, about biodiversity in Arctic waters. In cooperation with the Fisheries Science Center of the University of Akureyri, Vistey has opened.

    Click here to take a look at the site, which is available in Icelandic and a large part in English. The translation is a work in progress to be completed soon.

    The purpose of the project is to educate and introduce the unique ecosystem of the Arctic waters.

    The possibilities of the project are huge but the first step is Vistey, about the biodiversity in Eyjafjörður fjord, in the Northern part of Iceland. Akureyri is located in Eyjafjörður, where the Arctic Portal headquarters are.

    The website is designed, programmed and hosted by Arctic Portal. The Fisheries Science Center provided the material and diver Erlendur Bogason from Strytan.is provided the photographs and the videos.

    The site is a work in progress and it will be constantly updated with new material.

    The future holds more locations in the Arctic for similar projects, finding these locations is a work in progress.

    Click here to take a look at Vistey.

  • The Arctic in the new millennium:

    Nexus

    Confrontation or cooperation
    November 25th, the University of Akureyri
    NEXUS, research forum for security and defense
    UNAK, Polar Law Institute
    Northern Research Forum

    On 25 November, the University of Akureyri, NEXUS: a Research Forum on Security and Defence), and the Northern Research Forum – in cooperation with the Icelandic Foreign Ministry – are co-organizing a Conference on Arctic matters. The Conference will be held at the University of Akureyri from 9:00 to 17:00 hours.

    Before noon there will be lectures on traditional security, societal security and human rights, as well as environmental security in the Arctic. After lunch, working groups will be formed on these same themes, and will then present their findings in plenary at the end of the day.

    The conference will be WebCasted on the Arctic Portal

    Program

    9.00

    • Welcoming speech by Stefán B. Sigurðsson, Rector of University of Akureyri

    9.10

    • Jónas Gunnar Allansson, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
      – Setting the agenda

    9.25

    States, citizens and security – chaired by Auður Ingólfsdóttir

    • Jennifer Rhemann, Polar Law MA Candidate, University of Akureyri, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) Discipline Coordinator for Polar Law and Policy and Council Co-Chair
      – Security Benefits of International Collaboration in Scientific Endeavours and Conservation Efforts
    • Gústav Pétursson, MA in International Relations
      – The High North: A Multidimensional Security Approach
    • Ágúst Þór Árnason, Director of Polar Law Institute
      – Citizenship in a Global Context: Future Perspectives for the 21st Century

    10.15 – 10.25
    Coffee break

    10.25
    Traditional- and political security – chaired by Alyson Bailes

    • Björn Bjarnason, Former minister of Justice and chair of Varðberg and Samtök um vestræna samvinnu
      – Arctic Security: An Icelandic Perspective
    • Jakob Þór Kristjánsson, PhD student at the University of Iceland
      – Security Dilemma in the High North, is a Resource War Looming?
    • Margrét Cela, PhD student at the University of Lapland
      – Traditional security in the official policies of the Arctic eight

    11.15 -11.20
    Coffee break

    11.20
    Environmental- and energy security – chaired by Jennifer Rhemann

    • Auður Ingólfsdóttir, Assistant professor, Bifröst University
      – Climate Change and Environmental Security in the Arctic: Links between geopolitical concerns and local challenges
    • Húni Hallsson, Project Manager, Polar law Institute
      – Arctic shipping: Evaluation of risks and benefits
    • Guðmundur Egill Erlendsson, ML and LL.M in Polar Law, Associate at Lögmannsstofa Akureyrar, and Freelance scholar
      – Energy Security Issues in the North: Viable Alternatives and Extreme Measures
    • Soffia Guðmundsdóttir, Pame
      – To be announced
    • Tom Barry, Executive Director of CAFF (Concervation of Arctic Flaura and Fauna) & Eydís Líndal Finnbogadóttir, Manager of Geographic Information Systems at the National Land Survey of Iceland
      – Monitoring in the Arctic and the Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure project

    13.00-13.45
    Lunch break

    13.45
    Working groups begin

    • Working group 1 – States, citizens and security:
      chaired by Jóhanna Þórdísardóttir, MA in International Relations
    • Working group 2 – Geopolitics and traditional security:
      chaired by Gústav Pétursson
    • Working group 3 – Environmental and energy security:
      chaired by Jennifer Rhemann

    15.00 – 15.20:
    Coffee break

    15.20 – 16.40
    Group presentations. Each presentation should take 10-15 minutes followed by
    10 – 15 minutes discussion. Chaired by Margrét Cela

    16.45
    Alyson Bailes, Adjunct Professor, University of Iceland
    – Closing remarks

    17.00
    Closing and thank you remarks from NEXUS (Margrét Cela Chair of NEXUS), UNAK, NRF and MFA Followed by reception

     

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