The Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland, in cooperation with the Centre for Small State Studies and the Centre for Arctic Policy Studies, organised several open seminars in January. These included:
On 24 January 2014 a conference focusing on the work and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Speakers of the conference included Sigríður Dúna Kristmundsdóttir, Professor of Anthropology, University of Iceland and Iceland’s former Ambassador til South Africa and Arnfríður Guðmundsdóttir, Professor of Theology, University of Iceland.
On 14 January 2014 the topic of the seminar was “Why the Arctic Matters? Prospects of Development”. The main speaker was Natalia Loukacheva, the first Visiting Nansen Professor of Arctic Studies, University of Akureyri, and currently Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Governance and Law, University of Northern British Columbia.
On 16 January 2014 the topic of the seminar was “The Arab Spring: No hope left?” The main speaker of the seminar was Magnús Þorkell Bernharðsson, Professor of History, Williams College.