The newly founded institute Grimsson Center hosted a symposium at the University Centre on Monday 28 November, to introduce a new, international fellowship located in Ísafjörður.

Grímshús in Túngata is the childhood home of Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former president of Iceland and founder of the Arctic Circle Organization. It will henceforth be available as an accommodation for academics who get granted a Nordurslod fellowship to dwell in Ísafjörður for 2-6 weeks.

The fellowship is a collaboration between Nordurslod and the University of Iceland, University of Akureyri and Reykjavik University so the three rectors attended the symposium too. Main speakers were Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir but speaking also was Peter Weiss, director of UW, who expressed enthusiasm for working with the visiting academics who will be able to use the facilities at UW and also be required to hold lectures or public talks there while staying in Grimshus.

Peter also pointed out how much this fellowship will add to the already existing academic community in the Westfjords and the opportunity for the fellows, UW students and UW teachers to network and collaborate. Peter used the opportunity to co-sign a contract with the rector of the University of Akureyri, about UA renting an office space at UW in order for its staff to be able to work from the Westfjords too and reinforce its ties with UW.