UArctic

The University of Iceland is an active member of the UArctic Network. Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, Professor of Geophysics is a board member of UArctic. Gunnar Stefánsson, Professor and Director of Engineering Research Institute, is the UArctic Vice President for Research, among other things, he leads a group of highly qualified academics who will serve as academic drivers in a broad area of relevance to the Arctic, called UArctic Chairs. The University of Iceland further supports the UArctic through Gunnar's efforts along with a support team at the Institute of International Affairs, Heiða Ragney Viðarsdóttir and Guðbjörg Ríkey Thoroddsen Hauksdóttir.

University of Iceland is an active member of the North2North UArctic mobility program, more information for students can be found here.

The biannual UArctic Congress takes place in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands from May 26 to 29, 2026. The event is hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands (Setur), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade and the Faroe Marine Research Institute.

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The 2026 Congress themes align with the Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council Chairship priorities. As a unique element, the event also integrates the Ocean Connectivity Conference, planned to be held in the Faroe Islands in 2026, to boost collaboration in this field.

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The five themes are:

• Sustainable Economic Development and International Cooperation
• Oceans
• Climate Change in the Arctic
• Biodiversity
• Indigenous Peoples and Northern Communities

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The UArctic Congress 2026 is the fifth Congress organized to date.

More information about the Congress can be found here.

Researchers and scientists from the University of Iceland participate in the following UArctic thematic networks:

• • Arctic Cultures and History (ARCH)
  • Arctic Geology
  • Arctic in Asia and Asia in the Arctic
  • Arctic Safety and Security
  • Arctic Sustainable Arts and Design (ASAD)
  • Arctic Sustainable Resources and Social Responsibility
  • Arctic WASH
  • Circumpolar Archive, Folklore and Ethnography (CAFE)
  • Circular Economy
  • Collaborative Online International Learning and Biodiversity Education Across the Arctic Circle
  • Disasters and Natural Hazards
  • Herbivory
  • Northern Tourism
  • Northern and Arctic Island Studies Research
  • Ocean Food Systems
  • Social Work
  • Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education