If people can work from a home-office for weeks because of COVID-19, they should be able to work from Patreksfjörður, shouldn’t they? Peter Weiss, the director of the University Centre decided to try it out and moves his office to Patreksfjörður for a week. The office will be in Ólafshús, where UW director will join some colleagues from other institutions.

The University Centre is often the first stop for researchers, students and teachers from other areas, who want to connect with the Westfjords. This especially applies to researchers from abroad. As the northern part of the Westfjords still lack a road connection to the southern part of the peninsula during wintertime, contact is naturally limited. But regardless of that a University Centre of the Westfjords director needs to be able to represent the Westfjords as a whole. This representation is best achieved by staying in the southern part of the Westfjords regularly in person.

The past few years the University Centre has taught the course Innovation in Aquaculture in Tálknafjörður in close connection with the companies there. This course has been a good opportunity to bring students and teachers to the southerly Westfjords for a few days each time. However, in times when all teaching was suddenly moved to online format, and everyone needed to stay home, new ways are needed to keep and deepen contacts between the southerly and the northerly Westfjords.

The University Centre’s annual meeting, the highest-ranking assembly, decided in 2018 to change the bylaws of the institution so that new members can join those who founded UW in 2005. During his stay in Patreksfjörður, Peter Weiss will use the opportunity to introduce this option to companies and institutions in the area.

Those who would like to meet with Peter Weiss, director of the University Centre of the Westfjords, in the southerly Westfjords during the next days, are welcome to call 869 3045 or send an e-mail to weiss@uw.is.