Universities, democracy and the Arctic Regions - an alternative worldview

Symposium in honour of His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri awards His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson an honorary doctorate in the field of social sciences.

On the occasion of the honorary award, a symposium entitled “Universities, democracy and the Arctic Regions” will be held at the University of Akureyri from 10:00 to 15:00. Following the symposium, a Celebration will be held in the University’s Festival Hall at 15:45 where the title of Doctor Honoris Causa will be conferred on His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

Symposium Director: Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector of the University of Akureyri

Agenda

10:00 Sentence speech - Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland

10:20 Icelandic political science - an overview - Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, professor emeritus at the University of Iceland

10:45 The importance of the constitution in a democratic society - Ragnheiður E Þorsteinsdóttir, lecturer at the University of Akureyri

11:10 The democratic role of universities - Guðrún Geirsdóttir, associate professor at the University of Iceland

11:35 Panel discussion - Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, Ragnheiður E Þorsteinsdóttir and Guðrún Geirsdóttir

12:00–12:40 Lunch break – Catering in the city centre

12:40 The academic community and Northern Trails - Þorsteinn Gunnarsson former rector of the University of Akureyri

13:05 Iceland and Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic: Communication and Policy - Rachael Lorna Johnstone, professor at the University of Akureyri and the University of Nuuk, Greenland

13:30 Changed worldview and Northern Trails - Albert Jónsson, former ambassador

13:55 Panel discussion - Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, Albert Jónsson and Rachael Lorna Johnstone

14:25 Summary and end of conference

14:25–15:00 Coffee and refreshments in Miðborg

Registration

THE SYMPOSIUM IS OPEN TO ALL FREE OF CHARGE