The Icelandic Biology Conference - UNAK participation

The Icelandic Biology Conference took place in Reykjavík from 12 - 14 October. The conference, which is the only one of its kind in Iceland, is held every two years and is a big thing for biologists in Iceland. University of Akureyri staff and students presented posters and gave presentations; a group from the Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences including adjuncts Sean M. Scully and Eva María Ingvadóttir. “This is a conference that I have been actively participating in since I was myself a biotechnology undergraduate,” Eva says, adding “the atmosphere at the conference is amazing - the researcher in me comes home rejuvenated and it is invaluable to get to meet and have time to talk to individuals who are immersed in research in related disciplines”.

Silja H. Hlynsdóttir, a postgraduate student at the University of Akureyri and doctoral student Emily Herbert, a Fulbrigt scholarship recipient who is currently in an exchange program at the University of Akureyri, also participated in the conference. The four are currently involved in research on the production of bioplastics with microorganisms isolated from Icelandic nature. “We are a rather small research group but have managed to explore a wide range of topics over the years, all of which are related to sustainable production of various materials, for example biofuels and bioplastics, with the aim of waste valorization.”

The conference is organized by the Icelandic Biological Society and was opened by President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. In his opening speech, he emphasised the importance of scientific communication and the promotion of trust between experts, academics and citizens. During the conference, The Icelandic Biological Society elected a new board making Eva María a new board member for the next two years. “To the best of my knowledge I am the first UNAk staff member to serve on the board of the society, let alone someone based in North Iceland. I think this is an important step in bringing the work and the projects of the Icelandic Biological Society to other parts of the country,” Eva says. Other board members include Hafró, Decode and the Icelandic Museum of Natural History staff. She says the board is made up of a strong team with diverse backgrounds that she is looking forward to working with.