The Proceeding Papers from the 5th NRF Open Assembly in Anchorage Alaska, "Seeking Balance in a Changing North", which was held in september 2008, have now been published and are available on the NRF website, www.nrf.is. 

Hunting tourism in Northern Europe can play an important role in rural areas. Sustainable social, ecological and economic activities are crucial for livelihoods in the Northern periphery and North Hunt, a new project involving scientists and practitioners in five countries in the far north, aims to set out the guidelines for hunting tourism development.

 

In the past few weeks several new employees have joined RHA.  There are now 17 people in 13 full time positions at the institution in addition to RHA housing one position for the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. That position is held by Tómas Þór Tómasson who is working on the 2nd  stage of the Master plan for hydro and geothermal energy resources.

September 25 The Directorate of Labour's task force on 50+ held a seminar on older emploees on the labour market. Hjalti Jóhannesson of RHA and Kjartan Ólafsson of UNAK/RHA presented a paper on older emploees in the times of structural change in the economy in the Icelandic countryside. Their presentation drew heavily on two projects, i.e. an ongoing project monitoring the socio-economic impacts of aluminum plant and hydro project in east Iceland and the research project How to make a living in Insular Areas - Six Nordic Cases completed 2006 under the management of Nordregio.

Three of RHA's staff, Gunnhildur Helgadóttir, Hjalti Jóhannesson and Tryggvi Hallgrímsson participated in European Researchers' Night September 26.  The broad scope of RHA's research projects was presented. An active part in the event was taken by the public and diverse intitutes were represented.  Rannís, The Icelandic Centre for Research organized the event which was held in downtown Reykjavík.

September 22, 2008 Hjalti Jóhannesson and Valtýr Sigurbjarnarson of RHA presented their report on housing needs for cultural activities in the largest municipality in south Iceland, Árborg.  The purpose of the report is to assist in future planning of cultural activities in the municipality and region as well as the planning of the centre of town Selfoss.

Guðrún Rósa Þórsteinsdóttir, director of RHA and Helgi Laxdal, chairman of the board of Iceland‘s Fisheries Association signed on the 28th of August a contract for a project that is intended to disseminate information about the wholesomeness of seafood. The objective of the project is also to bring attention to the fishing industry, a very important industry to us Icelanders.

RHA is a research partner in a Nordic Research and development project on the role of knowledge in regional economic development. The project commenced in 2007 and will finalize in 2010. The other Icelandic partner in the project is AFE, The Akureyri Region Business Agency. The project is funded by NICe, Nordic Innovation Centre and the lead partner is the institute Nordregio in Sweden. Contact at RHA is Hjalti Jóhannesson, hjalti@unak.is

Here you can find a press release on the project and short information.