Iceland and France cooperate on science

A convention of cooperation between the University of Akureyri and the French National Museum of Natural History (Musée Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle) was signed yesterday in Harpa, Reykjavik by the Rector of the University, Eyjólfur Gudmundsson, the Ambassador of France for the polar regions, Michel Rocard, and the Ambassador of France in Iceland, Philippe O'Quin.

The signature took place at the Arctic Circle Summit. M. Rocard, former French Prime Minister and head of the French delegation, has presented the forthcoming French Arctic roadmap which will be published in March 2015. This national road map will mention, among other French interests (as the economic, security, and political interests), the French involvement in scientific research. In this field, ten scientific priorities have been identified by the French Arctic Initiative.

In a press release it states that the convention between UNAK and MNHN is a concrete example of the shared ambition to promote Icelandic and French scientific cooperation, in natural history, knowledge and management of biodiversity, environmental law and relationships between societies and environment. Cooperation between UNAK and MNHN will take place in the framework of an annual program and exchanges of teachers and students could be a first step of this program.