Sigurður Reynir and Grímur honored
19. febrúar 2026
Photographs: EFÍ.
The President presents awards from the Ása Wright fund.
Sigurður Reynir Gíslason, research professor at the University of Iceland, and Grímur Sæmundsen, founder of the Blue Lagoon.
The president presented honorary awards from the Ása Guðmundsdóttir Wright Prize Fund at a formal ceremony at Bessastaðir. The award recipients were Sigurður Reynir Gíslason and Grímur Sæmundsen.
The honorary awards are presented annually in two categories. On the one hand, they are given to Icelandic scientists who have achieved outstanding results in their field of expertise and shared their knowledge to advance Icelandic society. On the other hand, the award is given to entrepreneurs who have excelled in innovation.
Sigurður Reynir, a research professor at the University of Iceland, received the honorary award for his research on the Earth's carbon cycle, carbon sequestration in rock, and the effects of volcanic eruptions on air, water, and ecosystems. He has played a key role in the development of the CarbFix project, which has attracted international attention, and has also published books in his field of expertise and a number of scientific articles.
Grímur Sæmundsen is a trained physician who has, over the course of his career, worked on numerous innovation projects in the healthcare sector. He led the development of Blue Lagoon Ltd. from its founding in 1992. Within a short time it became one of the main attractions for foreign tourists in Iceland.
In his address, the president spoke about Ása Guðmundsdóttir Wright, who was born in Árnessýsla in southern Iceland, moved to England to study nursing and later lived on a farm in the rainforest in Trinidad. After Ása was widowed, she established a nature reserve in Trinidad that bears her name. She founded the prize fund in 1968 to honour the 50th anniversary of the Icelandic Science Society. The president said in the address:
“In the accounts of Ása Wright, we see a person who did not let challenging circumstances stop her. She responded with courage and resourcefulness when it mattered, looked for solutions where others saw obstacles, and let her actions speak. Ása herself said: “It is strange that the longer I live, the more Icelandic I become.” I relate to these words with all my heart, because they contain a precious reminder. Although Ása lived and worked abroad for a long time, she always carried Iceland with her – in her values, her diligence, and her steadfastness. She was described as a visionary and formidable woman, resolute and determined, yet also warm and fair-minded. The blend of strength and humanity that characterized her is precisely the essence of good leadership, also in science, innovation, and social development.”
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