The Surtsey Research Society
When it became clear that Surtsey would endure as a permanent island, a group of enthusiastic researchers got together and founded a committee that later became a society whose aim was to organize and promote research carried out there.
The by-laws of the society state that the purpose of the society is that of promoting research in the earth and biological sciences in connection with the island of Surtsey, and in Iceland in general. The society itself does not carry out the research but instead promotes and coordinates scientific studies in the fields of earth sciences and biology.
The Surtsey Research Society publishes reports on the research carried out on the island. So far twelve such reports have been issued. The Society has built research huts on the island on two occasions and has organized the construction of a helicopter landing platform. The Surtsey Research Society has received grants from several foundations and is supported by the Icelandic government.
The research work in Surtsey has been carried out by scientists from several local authorities, especially the Icelandic Institute of Natural History (NATT), University of Iceland (UI), Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI), Iceland Goesurvey (ISOR), Marine & Freshwater Research Institute (HAFRO), Icelandic Met Office (VI), and many other Icelandic and international institutes. Aerial photographs of the island were initially taken by the National Land Survey of Iceland and later by Loftmyndir Ltd., but in recent years they have been taken biannually with a drone during the biannual geological expeditions to Surtsey.
The Surtsey Research Society has maintained a formal address at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and is grateful for the Institute’s assistance and hospitality.
The chairman of the Surtsey Research Society is Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir, the environmental director of Orkuveita Reykjavíkur. Others on the board are Olga Kolbrún Vilmundardóttir (vice-chairman, NATT), Bjarni D. Sigurdsson (treasurer, AUI), Lilja Gunnarsdóttir (HAFRÓ, secretary), Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson (UI), Viggó Þór Marteinsson (MATÍS) and Birgir Vilhelm Óskarsson (NATT).
Substitute board members are Sigurður Sveinn Jónsson (ÍSOR), Guðrún Nína Petersen (VI) and Gunnar Viðar Gunnarsson (AUI, master of infrastructures and repairs).
The Surtsey Research Society’s laws are available HERE