Students from the University of Southern Maine on a prize trip to Iceland

A group from the University of Southern Maine visited Reykjavík University this week. The delegation included the university’s assistant rector, staff members, and students. The visit was part of a prize trip to Iceland for the American students during Iceland Innovation Week, following their victory in a new-ideas competition at USM, modelled after similar competitions held at RU.

Dr. Ólafur Eysteinn Sigurjónsson, Assistant Provost for Research, Innovation, and Industry Relations at RU, led the group on a tour of the university's buildings and research facilities.

The tour began at the Motion Sickness Laboratory, where Dr Paolo Gargiulo, professor at the Department of Engineering and director of RU’s Health Technology Centre, welcomed the group. Research at the centre includes studies on motion sickness and body posture using BioVRSea virtual reality technology, in which heart rate, electroencephalography (EEG), and electromyography (EMG) are used to investigate underlying physiological mechanisms. Paolo explained the technology to the visitors, after which a few volunteers from the group tried it themselves.

Paolo is a prolific scholar in biomedical engineering and a pioneer in the development and 3D printing of anatomical models for clinical use. He was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy last autumn for his contribution to academic and scientific collaboration between Italy and Iceland.

The group also visited several of Reykjavík University’s diverse research centres. Following the tour, students from Taktín, the winning team of Vitan 2025, presented their award-winning idea to the guests. Finally, students from USM presented their prize-winning innovation concept to address a challenge in the field of innovation.

Also accompanying the group from RU were Hrafntinna V. Karlsdóttir, project manager for industry relations; Rakel Gunnarsdóttir, event manager; Guðmundur Kristjánsson, instructor at the Department of Applied Engineering; and Hákon Valur Haraldsson, lecturer at the Department of Engineering.

We sincerely thank the group from the University of Southern Maine for an enjoyable visit.