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.
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