University of Akureyri

RES and the University of Padova in Italy (UNIPD) have signed a cooperation agreement focusing on student and staff exchange, operation of summer programs and collaboration on specific research projects especially concerning utilisation of geothermal energy in the Veneto region in Italy.

A group from the University of Padova, including Dr. Rudi Tranquillini (Director of International Office) and three professors from UNIPD visited RES on 31 March 2009 to finalise the agreement. The purpose of the visit was to meet with faculty and administration at RES, as well as learn about the harnessing of geothermal energy in Iceland. As part of the cooperation agreement, RES and UNIPD along with Icelandic research institutions such as ISOR - Iceland GeoSurvey and Nordurorka will focus on research collaboration in the utilisation of geothermal energy in the Veneto region in Italy for electricity generation as well as both house-heating and cooling systems.


Back row:Professor De Carli Michele (UNIPD Department of Applied Physics at UNIPD), Professor Paolo Fabbri (UNIPD Department of Geosciences), Mr. Arnbjorn Olafsson (RES Director of International Office) and Professor Galgaro Antonio (UNIPD Department of Geosciences). Front row: Dr. Bjorn Gunnarsson (Rector of RES) and Dr. Rudi Tranquillini (Director of International Office at UNIPD)

University of Padova (UNIPD)
The University of Padova was established in 1222 and is one of the oldest operating universities in Europe. 70.000 students study at UNIPD and they have both research and academic collaboration with leading universities and research institutions around the world. At UNIPD there is great emphasis on research and the university has doubled it's funding for research activities in recent years. Both Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus taught at the University of Padova, which is regarded as one of the most respected research universities in Italy.