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“Trafficking is a heavy word” Quranic education for knowledge, liberation and power in Guinea-Bissau
(University of Iceland, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Sociology, Anthropology and Folkloristics, 2025-10-05) Boiro, Hamadou; Jónína Einarsdóttir; Félagsfræði-, mannfræði- og þjóðfræðideild (HÍ); Faculty of Sociology, Anthropology and Folkloristics (UI); Félagsvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Social Sciences (UI)
Þessi doktorsritgerð í mannfræði fjallar um Fulbe drengi frá Gíneu-Bissá sem eru sendir í kóranskóla í Senegal. Um er að ræða umdeilda venju sem hefur víða verið stimpluð sem mansal barna vegna þess að drengirnir betla á götum úti sem hluta af kórannámi sínu. Yfirgrípandi rannsóknarspurning snýr að því hvers vegna heimamenn telji að hugtakið „mansal“ í þessu samhengi sé „þungt orð“ og hvernig þeir bregðast við alþjóðlegum aðgerðum til að hefta för drengjanna til Senegal, banna betl og senda þá aftur heim til Gíneu-Bissá. Aðgerðrirnar eru umdeildar og stangast á við trúar- og menningarlegar hefðir og félagslegar aðstæður þar sem drengirnir búa. Rannsóknin byggir á langtíma vettvangsrannsókn að hætti mannfræðinnar sem fram fór á árunum 2009 til 2020, þar sem notast var við þátttökuathuganir, viðtöl og rýnihópa. Þátttakendur voru trúarlegir leiðtogar og kennarar (cerembe) sem hafa verið sakaðir um mansal, kóranskóladrengir (almube) sem flokkaðir eru sem fórnarlömb mansals, foreldrar þeirra og annað heimafólk. Niðurstöðurnar storka ríkjandi frásögnum frjálsra félagasamtaka og alþjóðastofnana um að sárafátækt og vanþekking séu meginástæður þess að foreldrar sendi syni sína í kórannám til Senegal. Andstætt slíkum hugmyndum þá sýnir rannsóknin að fjölskyldur, sérstaklega meðal Fulbe Djiahabe sem eru afkomendur þræla, velja trúarlega menntun sem leið til félagslegs hreyfanleika, valda og frelsis. Rannsóknin sýnir hvernig trúarleg þekking eykur táknrænt vald trúarleiðtoganna og gerir jaðarsettum hópum kleift að bæta virðingarstöðu sína og vinna gegn fordómum. Doktorsritgerðin kallar eftir afnýlenduvæðingu aðgerða gegn meintu mansali barna og sýnir hvernig þær bæti ekki stöðu drengjanna, nema að síður sé. Aðgerðirnar taka ekki tillit til menningarbundinna hugmynda, t.d. um betl sem gagnkvæma athöfn og hugtaksins merkingarbær þjáning, sem er þjáning sem leiðir til jákvæðrar niðurstöðu. Rannsóknin sýnir að heimsending drengjanna til Gíneu-Bissá leiðir til ringulreiðar, stimplunar og átaka í samfélagi þeirra. Samtímis þjónar heimsendingin mörgum, stundum andstæðum, hagsmunum. Frjáls félagasamtök tryggja áframhaldandi fjármögnun sína, ekki síst þegar þau snúa sama hópi drengja aftur og aftur til heimalandsins. Þá hafa fjölskyldur drengjanna og kóranskólakennarar byrjað að nýta sér hana sem ókeypis far heim fyrir drengina áður en árstíðabundnir annatímar byrja, en þeir snúa svo aftur til Senegal að þeim loknum. Fræðilegi rammi ritgerðarinnar sameinar kenningar Quijano um nýlenduvæðingu valds og þekkingar, kenningu Foucault um tengsl valds og þekkingar og hugmyndum Bourdieu um táknrænt vald. Þessi samruni fræðilegra sjónarhorna varpar ljósi á hvernig alþjóðleg og staðbundin valdakerfi, þekkingarsköpun og andstaða eru að verki samtímis, og opinberar hvernig alþjóðleg barnavernd einkennist af nýlenduhugarfari sem heimamenn mæta með andstöðu. Rannsóknin dregur fram misræmi á milli alþjóðlegra aðgerða gegn mansali, byggðar á vestrænum, lagalegum og siðferðilegum viðmiðum lituðum af nýlenduhugsun, sem leiða til glæpavæðingar hefða og samfélaga, og staðbundinna sjónarmiða um hvað teljist vera virðingarvert uppeldi barna. Doktorsritgerðin er framlag til mannfræði og umræðu um alþjóðlega stefnumótun og varpar ljósi á takmarkanir algildra inngripa og lagalegra aðgerða til að bæta aðstæður barna sem búa við erfiðar aðstæður. Hún hvetur til aðgerða sem taka mið af aðstæðum, vinnu gegn kerfislægum ójöfnuði, og stuðningi við staðbundna valkosti til menntunar. Forsenda árangurs er að umgangast trúarleiðtoga, foreldra og annað heimafólk af virðingu. Rannsóknin er ákall um afnýlenduvæðingu alþjóðlegrar barnaverndar og hvetur fræðimenn og fagfólk til að viðurkenna fjölbreytileika bernskunnar og óskir foreldra um fjölþætta menntun fyrir börn sín á sama tíma og velferð þeirra er tryggð.
Verk
Patterns and processes of birch establishment in space and time; Implications for large-scale woodland restoration
(0022-10-25) Behrend, Anna Mariager; Ása L. Aradóttir, Agricultural University of Iceland; Kristín Svavarsdóttir, Land and Forest Iceland; Þóra Ellen Þórhallsdóttir, University of Iceland; Faculty of Environmental and Forest Sciences
The continuous global ecosystem loss and degradation calls for extensive ecological restoration. Iceland has lost more than 95% of its original native mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) woodlands since the country’s settlement in the 9th century CE. This has prompted an ambitious pledge for their restoration by the Icelandic government with the acceptance of the Bonn Challenge, aiming to increase the native birch woodland cover from 1.5 to 5%. This is only going to be possible through passive and low-intensity restoration strategies, and such strategies must be grounded in an in-depth knowledge of colonization processes of the targeted woodland species. The overall aim of this thesis was to improve knowledge on the patterns, processes and drivers of mountain birch woodland expansion through natural processes in order to guide their restoration. The thesis encompasses studies at different scales, including field surveys, seeding experiments and remote sensing, based on ten study areas covering most lowland areas of Iceland. Analysis of aerial photos from different years showed that the studied birch woodlands expanded on average by 1,5% annually over a period of 38-65 years. Areas that had been protected from grazing generally had higher expansion rates than those open for grazing, and the area with the highest expansion rate had also undergone revegetation. This expansion has mainly happened through natural colonization, as revealed by surveys of colonization patterns: a process mainly limited by local environmental factors at the early seedling establishment phase. This includes microsite availability, wind and soil type, and disturbance in the form of presence of domestic grazers. Seedling densities were greatest within 20 m of the woodland edge, indicating dispersal limitation, with varying patterns among areas. However, most areas had densities of more than 100 seedlings m-2 out to at least 100 m from the woodland edge. The results also show a positive effect of greater woodland heights on the effective colonization range of birch, and on the morphology of saplings growing at the woodland edge. Seeding experiments confirmed the importance of favourable microsites (safe sites) for recruitment. Recruitment of mountain birch was furthermore highly variable among different land classification types (habitat types), dependent on safe site availability and partly on origin of the seed source used. These are factors that can be controlled in restoration to improve conditions for birch establishment and survival. The results show the feasibility of upscaling mountain birch woodland restoration by applying knowledge on natural processes to promote natural colonization and regeneration. The increased knowledge on birch colonization processes supports more targeted guidance on how natural recovery processes can be enhanced by limited interventions.
Verk
Teaching visual arts as an approach to moral education: An autoethnographic account of my research project
(University of Iceland, School of Education, 2025-11-04) Olafsson Waage, Ingimar; Atli Harðarson og Ólafur Páll Jónsson; Deild faggreinakennslu (HÍ); Subject Teacher Education (UI); Menntavísindasvið (HÍ); School of Education (UI)
This doctoral dissertation, composed of five peer-reviewed articles along with a Kappa, details an intervention study designed by the author and carried out in collaboration with three visual arts teachers during art classes at an elementary school in the capital area of Iceland. The research focused on exploring the potential for enhancing moral education through discussions about visual art and art-making, based on selected virtues. The theoretical foundation is rooted in Aristotle’s virtue ethics and its modern adaptations, particularly Neo-Aristotelianism and Aristotelian Character Education. The author also draws on John Dewey’s educational and aesthetic philosophy, Rudolf Arnheim’s theories on the interaction of perception and thinking, Susanne Langer’s writings on art and inner life, and Maxine Greene’s views on the role of art and imagination in education and the teacher’s role within that context. The ontological basis of the study is pragmatic, and the author employed a mixed- methods research approach, including focus group interviews, thematic analysis of student texts, observation of their artworks, and action research, wherein the author holistically reflected on the research process. The work weaves together two distinct dimensions: an exploration of the role and potential of visual arts education in fostering moral development, and an autoethnographic study of the author’s own development as an artist, teacher, and researcher, particularly in light of the value of educational research and the role of the teacher. At the outset, the author intended to investigate how visual arts education might contribute to moral development, especially in terms of what is called “virtue literacy”— a construct developed by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham in the UK. The research aimed to develop new methods and educational materials for moral education where the arts, especially visual arts, would play a central role. The intervention, lasting eight weeks, involved creative projects in art classes that emphasised virtues such as courage and friendship. Students also regularly engaged in philosophical discussions about selected artworks that the author believed contained moral undertones or content. Before and after the intervention, questionnaires were administered to both the participating students and a control group. Statistical analysis of the survey data indicated that the intervention did not have a statistically significant effect on students’ moral vocabulary. However, this finding contrasted with impressive student artworks and their written reflections, which indicated meaningful contemplation and insights. This constitutes the first dimension of the study. This outcome led the author to recognise more clearly his own inseparable role as artist, teacher, and researcher, highlighting that the organic whole of human interaction in the classroom cannot be detached from the technical aspects of curriculum, teaching methods, interventions, and assessment. To better understand his role in this context, the author undertook an action research project, forming the second dimension of the study. The main findings of the research underscore the importance of giving students opportunities to reflect on artworks and discuss their thoughts and emotions in relation to those works and their own lives. The results also show that elementary school students can grapple with complex moral questions and articulate their thoughts about them, even if they have not fully developed linguistic mastery. It can be inferred that reflection on artworks and participation in discussions about them may be a valuable complement to traditional curriculum content in elementary education. Furthermore, the results highlight the crucial role of the teacher in creating a safe and trusting classroom environment that enables meaningful learning. On the other hand, the findings also indicate that due to traditions and expectations about the content and focus of visual arts education, teachers might expect to face challenges, though these can be met with patience, reflection, care, and respect
Verk
Role of MITF in olfactory bulb neurons. Putative MITF target genes in neurons and the effects of its loss in the aging olfactory bulb.
(University of Iceland, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, 2025) Mechmet, Fatich; Pétur Henry Petersen, Eiríkur Steingrímsson; Læknadeild (HÍ); Faculty of Medicine (UI); Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Health Sciences (UI)
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulator in melanocytes and plays and important role in mast cells. Mitf is also expressed in the mitral and tufted (M/T) cells which are projection neurons (PNs), in the olfactory bulb (OB). Lack of MITF leads to neuronal hyperactivity in primary M/T cells but the general function of MITF in neurons is currently unknown. In this study, putative MITF target genes in M/T cells of mice were identified. They differ from target genes in other cell types including melanocytes and can be grouped into two categories: those likely to be involved in inhibiting neuronal activity and those specific to a subgroup of tufted cells called middle tufted cells (mTCs). This work also shows that the mTCs are reduced in number in the absence of Mitf, suggesting a role for Mitf in the generation or survival of the mTCs and/or their function. Altered response to odors is also observed in Mitfmi-vag9/mi-vga9 mice, indicating a role of MITF in olfactory adaptation. Aging affects various brain structures and sensory systems, including the OB, resulting in a decline in olfactory ability. Decline in the OB is associated with early signs of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, the underlying reasons remain unclear. Primary PNs from OBs of young Mitfmi-vga9/mi-vga9 mice show hyperactivity, potentially linked to reduced expression of the potassium channel subunit Kcnd3/Kv4.3, which impacts intrinsic plasticity. In aged Mitfmi-vag9/mi-vag9 mice, reduced olfactory ability was observed without any signs of neuroinflammation or reduction in neuronal number. An increase in the expression of genes coding for potassium channel subunits was found in the OBs of aged Mitfmi-vga9/mi-vga9 mice. This suggests that increased expression of potassium channel subunits in aging Mitfmi-vga9/mi-vga9 mice may compensate for or stabilize neuronal hyperactivity observed in the OB of young Mitfmi-vga9/mi-vga9 mice.
Verk
The Impact of Smoothened Cholesterol-Binding Pocket Mutations on Hedgehog Signaling and Osteoarthritis
(University of Iceland, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, 2025-10) Smith, Abbi Elise; Sara Sigurbjörnsdóttir and Eiríkur Steingrímsson; Læknadeild (HÍ); Faculty of Medicine (UI); Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Health Sciences (UI)
A genome wide association study identified a risk variant of Smoothened (p.Arg173Cys; SMOR173C) associated with hip osteoarthritis. Smoothened (SMO), a 7-transmembrane G protein coupled receptor-like protein, is a key component of the hedgehog signal transduction mechanism. The hedgehog signaling pathway is known to be activated in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, but this was the first identified osteoarthritis risk variant in a hedgehog pathway gene. Interestingly, even though hedgehog signaling is elevated in osteoarthritis tissues, structural analysis predicted the SMOR173C variant to reduce the binding capability of SMO to cholesterol. The binding of cholesterol to the extracellular domain of SMO was recently discovered to be a critical step in SMO activation. As such, the predicted effect of this variant on SMO conflicts with the current known relationship between hedgehog signaling and osteoarthritis. Thus, the aim of the studies described in this thesis was to elucidate the role of the SMOR173C variant in the development of osteoarthritis. To determine whether the SMOR173C variant alters downstream hedgehog signaling activity, we introduced the mutation to the prechondrogenic cell line, ATDC5 in two ways: by overexpressing the human SMO protein containing the SMOR173C mutation, and by generating an endogenously expressing mutation by restoring a null allele in the ATDC5 Smo-null cell line. We showed in both models that the SMOR173C did not abolish downstream hedgehog signaling activity, disproving the structural predictions for the variant. Additionally, we microinjected hSMOR173C mRNA into smo-/- zebrafish embryos and showed that the hSMOR173C mRNA more efficiently recovered a normal morphological phenotype than the hSMOWT mRNA or mRNAs with mutations known to abolish cholesterol binding and downstream hedgehog signaling. To determine the effect of the SMOR173C mutation on osteoarthritis development, we developed a three-dimensional hydrogel cell culture system to better recapitulate the native environment of chondrocytes and found that in the hydrogel system the ATDC5 cells showed indications of precocious differentiation when compared to ATDC5 cell cultured in differentiation medium in a monolayer. Next, we used a cytokine cocktail to stimulate the ATDC5 cells and drive them toward an osteoarthritis-like phenotype. Then we employed both methods using the endogenous mutant ATDC5 cell lines. Cells expressing the R173C variant expressed more than three-fold elevated levels of Mmp13 mRNA at baseline. The effect increased to over four-fold elevation in response to cytokine treatment. As MMP13 is a key catabolic enzyme responsible for cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis, we concluded that chronically increased MMP13 mRNA expression could be responsible for the increased risk of hip osteoarthritis associated with the SMOR173C variant. Finally, we used evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses of smo mutations in teleost fish to identify sites predicted to cause species diversification. We paired this information with clinical reports of disease and cancer driven by SMO mutations to gain a better understanding of the genetic plasticity of SMO. We also found a gene-dose response in the transgenic smo+/- zebrafish with evidence of a heterochronic shift in hedgehog signaling-driven developmental processes: somitogenesis and chondrogenesis. From this we concluded that smo is permissive of mutations largely located outside of the transmembrane domain and likely contributed to species diversification related to jaw structure and body plan morphologies throughout evolutionary history in teleost fishes. The human clinical data follow the same trend: SMO variants associated with skeletal changes lie outside the transmembrane domain, while oncogenic SMO mutations largely occur within the transmembrane domain. This project used in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the role of the SMOR173C variant in downstream hedgehog signaling as well as an osteoarthritis-like phenotype and identified a potentially pathological increase in Mmp13 mRNA expression associated with the SMOR173C variant that likely contributes to osteoarthritis initiation and progression.

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