Let our planet speak!

This week we welcomed Páll Ásgeir Daviðsson from Vox Naturae to hear about a wonderful project VN is working on. The organization wants to “ .. inspire a global movement pushing for action concerning the impact of climate change on water and substantially increase awareness of the issues at stake.’’ They want to accomplish this by illuminating an Icelandic glacier with green energy and use that image as the vehicle through which the glacier tells us that it is disappearing and focusing our minds on the calamitous consequences. This is an extremely creative project which I have no doubt this Icelandic organization will pull off. We look forward to working with them in the coming months.

U.S. educated interns make a splash in Iceland

During a recent visit to Carbon Recycling International (CRI), I had a chance to listen to a group of U.S. educated interns who are in Iceland for the summer. They are participating in a highly competitive program at CRI—Iceland’s pioneering firm and the first in the world to produce methanol from carbon emissions. While most of the students were from the U.S., others are from Canada, Indonesia, India, Swaziland, Germany, Hong Kong, and Iceland. They were energetic, asked some very good questions about what Embassies do, and are enjoying Iceland. If all students are like this group, our future will be in good hands.

Við Djúpið – where future virtuosos meet

The U.S. Embassy is very proud of sponsoring the Við Djúpið Music Festival, which takes place everyyear in Isafjörður. The event is a gem that brings together some of the best young musicians in the world and where young Icelandic music students have the opportunity to receive master classes from them. Mary and I had the opportunity to hear the world premiere of pieces by young American, Icelandic, and Hungarian composers performed by The Declassified – a group of talented musicians from some of the best American musical institutions: the Julliard Academy and the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Katonah Museum and the Scandinavian American Foundation directors visit Iceland

We had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Katonah Museum in New York and several members of the Scandinavian American Foundation. The group, which has longstanding artistic ties with Iceland, visited Reykjavik and other parts of the country to look at some of the latest pieces of Icelandic art. Both groups are striving to strengthen ties between Iceland and the United States through art. Among our guests, we had two wonderful and accomplished Icelandic artists: Steinunn þórarinsdóttir and þórdís Alda Sigurdardóttir.

Grímsey on summer solstice and the Willard Fiske connection

We had a unique opportunity to visit Grímsey, located right on the Arctic circle, on 21 June. The island's inhabitants reflect the Icelandic pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit. They rely on fisheries to make their living in an environment that can be at once stunningly beautiful and harsh. I learned of a special connection between Grímsey and Willard Fiske, one of Iceland's earliest American friends. Fiske bequeathed Grimsey several chess sets and the school house because he learned of the island's passion for chess. Fiske, who is known as a friend and benefactor of Iceland, was a linguist and scholar who met and befriended Jón Sigurðsson in Denmark while studying there. He was keenly interested in Iceland and learned its language. Those of us who have struggled with Icelandic know it has as many variations as even the most complex chess game.

U.S. National Science Foundation supports Mývatn research for 17 years

I wanted to have a look at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project that is attempting to explain, among many other things, the role of the famous Mývatn fly on human settlement in the Mývatn area. This has been a 17-year collaborative effort between American and Icelandic scientists and anthropologists. I met Dr. Adolf Friðriksson, Director of the Icelandic Archeological Center, who took Mary and I on a fascinating journey beginning with the first settlements in the 9th century. NSF has several collaborative research projects involving Iceland which amount to over $140 million. In fact, the NSF has awarded over $700 million to research involving Iceland since 1980.

Flies are quite abundant in the area as readers can tell by looking at my granddaughter's protective gear and the photo above. We were lucky to be there before they begin to bite. It was an interesting experience; I would do it again.

Skagaströnd - a nice blend of science, history, the arts and community

During a visit to the community of Skagaströnd, I found a vibrant and open community with a bright future. The town's leaders understand that their community must rely on a blend of the traditional (fisheries), science (the BioPol marine biotechnology company) and culture and the arts (the Nes Art Residency Program), while remembering Iceland's roots (the University of Iceland Research Center). Here's why:

 Want to have Omega 3 fatty acids without the fishy taste?

BioPol has isolated and produced Omega 3 fatty acids directly from the source: microalgae. The company envisions developing a product that is pure and can be blended with other ingredients to provide this important and healthy food component.

Want to learn and research Icelandic culture?

The University of Iceland established a cultural research center in Skagaströnd where scholars and students can use an impressive library of rare books with a focus on the humanities.

Want an art residency?

The Nes Art Residency Program offers unique opportunities for writers, sculptors, painters, dancers, photographers and multi-media specialists in a stunning and inspiring setting.

Want to have a taste of Country and Western music?

Yes, you read this correctly, Skagaströnd hosts Kántrýbær, a very special place where you can hear the latest country and western hits and taste some of the best steak in a western environment. If you are lucky, you can even meet Hallbjörn Hjartarson, Iceland's very own country music legend.

Want to know what the future brings?

Stop by the Museum of Prophecies where you will learn about Þórdís the fortune teller after whom the nearby mountain was named during the time of the Icelandic sagas.