Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is noted for his work with climate change and land restoration.
The president of Iceland will be honored at Ohio State’s fall commencement ceremony when he receives an honorary degree for public service. President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is noted for his work with climate change and land restoration.
“This is the greatest honor that the Ohio State University bestows for a unique contribution in any area of science, culture, art and service,” said Rattan Lal, a professor of soil science. “The recipients of the honorary degree from OSU are very distinguished persons representing their profession.”
Grimsson is no stranger to OSU. He visited in April 2007 and signed three agreements with former OSU President Karen A. Holbrook to help foster cooperation on research relating to soil erosion and climate change. The signing was part of Grimsson’s visit that included a lecture about scientific research and its role in solving global concerns. He also spoke about efforts to increase research concerning the increasing soil erosion and glacier retreat afflicting his country.
“He has been at the forefront in mobilizing the policy makers to address the issue of climate change,” Lal said. “He is very concerned with land degradation and desertification, especially in Africa and Asia. He and his government have established training programs for scientists from Africa and Asia to come to Iceland and learn from their experiences.”
OSU also has a collaborative program with the University of Iceland.
The agreements Grimsson and Holbrook signed initially called for
undergraduates students to exchange between OSU and the University of Iceland. Another provision of the agreements called for a study abroad group to be sent to the Agricultural University of Iceland in June 2007.
Grimsson shared his thoughts about the global climate change at his 2007 lecture at OSU.
“I’ve been following the debate in the U.S. for more than 20 years, and I’ve noticed a dramatic change in public opinion and actions among those who act at the city level, the household level and the corporate level,” Grimsson said. “All over the U.S. you see a concern and an activity that was not there five or even three years ago.”
Grimsson has served as the president of Iceland since 1996. His dedication to global climate has not wavered, despite the financial status of his country. Iceland has been hit especially hard by the financial crisis, mostly because of a failure in its banking systems.
“If Iceland can do this coming from the history of being one of the poorest countries in Europe ... the richest nations in the world should be able to do it as well,” Grimsson said in 2007.
Lal nominated Grimsson for the honorary degree in 2007.
“However, the process takes a long time before the approved nominee is invited by the president of OSU to receive the award,” Lal said.
The nomination process can take up to a year and is subject to approval from the OSU Board of Trustees. Any faculty member can prepare a nomination and submit it to the Honorary Degrees Committee, established by the University Senate.
The board approved Lal’s nomination in November 2008.
According to the University Senate Web site, the awarding of honorary degrees should express the university’s highest ideals and recognize achievements. The faculty and the community should regard an honorary degree as evidence of “genuine accomplishment.”
Grimsson “is a role model in setting up an example by establishing a program of land management and restoration so that Iceland can be an emission-neutral nation. I hope that other world leaders will follow in his footsteps,” Lal said.
Grimsson will be in attendance at the fall commencement ceremony Dec. 13. He will receive a plaque at the pre-commencement dinner Dec. 12, followed by the honorary degree at the ceremony. Accompanying him will be his chief of staff and the first lady of Iceland.
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Source:thelantern.com/
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