Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke skrifar 14. mars 2025 12:32 The final days before the University of Iceland elects its new rector are fast approaching. Next week, staff members and students will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their preferred candidate. As for me, I know exactly where my vote will go—Björn Þorsteinsson. Here are just a few of the many reasons why. Björn has been a guiding force throughout my academic journey. We first crossed paths when I was a master’s student, and he later became a co-supervisor on my Ph.D. project. Today, we collaborate as peers—me as a professor of nursing, him in philosophy. Having worked closely with him, I can confidently say that Björn has always championed interdisciplinary collaboration, creating space for diverse perspectives to shape both research and teaching. Our work—bridging philosophy and nursing—is just one example of how he fosters dialogue across disciplines to drive innovation and progress. When Björn sets a goal, he pursues it with determination and delivers tangible results. His ability to unite fields and individuals has helped cultivate an academic community where inclusivity is more than a value, it’s a practice! As a mentor Björn has been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional journey. His support goes beyond just academic guidance – he empowers individuals to think critically, pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to their fields. His dedication to professional (and personal) development has inspired me and many others to reach our full potential. His leadership as a dean would help the university to nurture future forward thinking academic leaders. As I have experienced through my collaboration with Björn he is leader with clear vision for the future of the University of Iceland. He is capable of balancing tradition with innovation and pushing the boundaries of thought and practice - ensuring that academic excellence thrives while also having the ambition to ensure optimal conditions for faculty. This is important for the university to remain a hub for cutting edge research and intellectual development. Höfundur er prófessor á hjúkrunar- og ljósmóðurfræðideild, Háskóla Íslands. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Háskólar Rektorskjör við Háskóla Íslands Heilbrigðismál Mest lesið Ofurgróði sjávarútvegs? – Hættið að afvegaleiða! Elliði Vignisson Skoðun „Fáum við einkunn fyrir þetta?“ Hulda Dögg Proppé Skoðun Lífeyrir skal fylgja launum Jónína Björk Óskarsdóttir Skoðun Rafbíllinn er ekki bara umhverfisvænn – hann er líka hagkvæmari Óskar Páll Þorgilsson Skoðun Sakar aðra um það sem hún gerir sjálf Sigurjón Þórðarson Skoðun Fánar, tákn og blómabreiður: „Enginn bjó á Íslandi fyrr en einhver kom“ Meyvant Þórólfsson Skoðun „Þú verður aldrei nóg“ - Ástæður þess að kerfið bregst innflytjendum Ian McDonald Skoðun Frá Írak til Gaza: Hvað höfum við lært af lygunum og stríðsbröltinu? Helen Ólafsdóttir Skoðun Hrossakjöt, hroki og hleypidómar Kristján Logason Skoðun Að byggja upp á Bakka Hjálmar Bogi Hafliðason Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Af hverju útiloka Ísrael frá Eurovision eins og Rússland? Stefán Jón Hafstein skrifar Skoðun Lífeyrir skal fylgja launum Jónína Björk Óskarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Fánar, tákn og blómabreiður: „Enginn bjó á Íslandi fyrr en einhver kom“ Meyvant Þórólfsson skrifar Skoðun Hvernig er staða lesblindra á Íslandi? Guðmundur S. Johnsen skrifar Skoðun Sakar aðra um það sem hún gerir sjálf Sigurjón Þórðarson skrifar Skoðun „Þú verður aldrei nóg“ - Ástæður þess að kerfið bregst innflytjendum Ian McDonald skrifar Skoðun Rafbíllinn er ekki bara umhverfisvænn – hann er líka hagkvæmari Óskar Páll Þorgilsson skrifar Skoðun Ofurgróði sjávarútvegs? – Hættið að afvegaleiða! Elliði Vignisson skrifar Skoðun Laun kvenna og karla í aðildarfélögum ASÍ og BSRB árið 2024 Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar Skoðun „Fáum við einkunn fyrir þetta?“ Hulda Dögg Proppé skrifar Skoðun Hrossakjöt, hroki og hleypidómar Kristján Logason skrifar Skoðun Sjávarútvegur er undirstöðuatvinnuvegur – ekki einangruð tekjulind Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Að byggja upp á Bakka Hjálmar Bogi Hafliðason skrifar Skoðun Fiskeldi og samfélagsábyrgð Eyjólfur Ármannsson skrifar Skoðun Pólitískt raunsæi og utanríkisstefna Íslands Ragnar Anthony Antonsson Gambrell skrifar Skoðun Vorstjarnan hans Gunnars Smára? Guðbergur Egill Eyjólfsson skrifar Skoðun Fylgið fór vegna fullveldismáls Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Er Ísrael ennþá útvalin þjóð Guðs? Ómar Torfason skrifar Skoðun Flokkurinn hans Gunnars Smára? Guðbergur Egill Eyjólfsson skrifar Skoðun Raforkuverð: Stórnotendur og almenningur Ingvar Júlíus Baldursson skrifar Skoðun Hætt við að hækka ekki skatta á almenning Bryndís Haraldsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Skattafíkn í skjóli réttlætis: Tímavélin stillt á 2012 Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Hver borgar brúsann? Ingibjörg Isaksen skrifar Skoðun Hvers vegna berðu kross? Hrafnhildur Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Þannig gerum við þetta? Ísak Ernir Kristinsson skrifar Skoðun Stærsta framfaraskref í námsmati íslenskra barna í áratugi Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson skrifar Skoðun Falleinkunn skólakerfis? Helga Þórisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Þjónusta sem gleður – skilar sér beint í kassann Margrét Reynisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvar er auðlindarentan? Birta Karen Tryggvadóttir skrifar Skoðun Miðflokkurinn – Rödd skynseminnar í borginni Ómar Már Jónsson skrifar Sjá meira
The final days before the University of Iceland elects its new rector are fast approaching. Next week, staff members and students will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their preferred candidate. As for me, I know exactly where my vote will go—Björn Þorsteinsson. Here are just a few of the many reasons why. Björn has been a guiding force throughout my academic journey. We first crossed paths when I was a master’s student, and he later became a co-supervisor on my Ph.D. project. Today, we collaborate as peers—me as a professor of nursing, him in philosophy. Having worked closely with him, I can confidently say that Björn has always championed interdisciplinary collaboration, creating space for diverse perspectives to shape both research and teaching. Our work—bridging philosophy and nursing—is just one example of how he fosters dialogue across disciplines to drive innovation and progress. When Björn sets a goal, he pursues it with determination and delivers tangible results. His ability to unite fields and individuals has helped cultivate an academic community where inclusivity is more than a value, it’s a practice! As a mentor Björn has been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional journey. His support goes beyond just academic guidance – he empowers individuals to think critically, pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to their fields. His dedication to professional (and personal) development has inspired me and many others to reach our full potential. His leadership as a dean would help the university to nurture future forward thinking academic leaders. As I have experienced through my collaboration with Björn he is leader with clear vision for the future of the University of Iceland. He is capable of balancing tradition with innovation and pushing the boundaries of thought and practice - ensuring that academic excellence thrives while also having the ambition to ensure optimal conditions for faculty. This is important for the university to remain a hub for cutting edge research and intellectual development. Höfundur er prófessor á hjúkrunar- og ljósmóðurfræðideild, Háskóla Íslands.
Skoðun Fánar, tákn og blómabreiður: „Enginn bjó á Íslandi fyrr en einhver kom“ Meyvant Þórólfsson skrifar
Skoðun Rafbíllinn er ekki bara umhverfisvænn – hann er líka hagkvæmari Óskar Páll Þorgilsson skrifar
Skoðun Laun kvenna og karla í aðildarfélögum ASÍ og BSRB árið 2024 Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar
Skoðun Sjávarútvegur er undirstöðuatvinnuvegur – ekki einangruð tekjulind Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar
Skoðun Stærsta framfaraskref í námsmati íslenskra barna í áratugi Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson skrifar