The Future of the Icelandic Language on May 10th in New York City
In 2018, Iceland celebrates 100 years as a free and sovereign state. In 1918, Iceland and Denmark signed a Union Treaty, effectively freeing Iceland from Denmark. This was the culmination of nearly a century long campaign for Icelandic self-determination. 2018 will be a continuous celebration of this remarkable event.
In celebration of the centenary the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce is organizing panel discussions on the Future of the Icelandic Language with a keynote presentation from the President of Iceland Mr. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson at Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in New York City.
Conference Chair is Jon Sigurdsson, Chairman, Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO, Össur.
Agenda May 10th
08:15-09:00 Light breakfast and networking
09:00-09:10 Welcome
09:10-09:40 Keynote Presentation Followed by Q&A
The President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
09:40-10:20 The Icelandic Language and Technology
Moderator:
Pamela Pecs Cytron, CEO, Pendo Systems, Inc.
Panelists:
Richard Sproat, Senior Staff Research Scientist, Google, Inc
Hal Daumé III, Principle Researcher and Associate Professor, Microsoft Research and University of Maryland
Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, Professor of Icelandic Language, Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Iceland
Anna Björk Nikulásdóttir, Researcher at the Language and Voice Lab, Reykjavik University
Ingvar Pétursson, former Executive Vice President, Technology and Finance, Nintendo of America
10:20-10:40 Networking Break
10:40-11:20 The Status and Future of Icelandic Literature
Moderator:
Anne Giardini, Chancellor, Simon Fraser University
Panelists:
Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland
Adam Gopnik, Staff Writer, The New Yorker
Chad W. Post, Contributing Writer, Publishers Weekly, Publisher/Editor, Open Letter, University of Rochester
Birna Anna Björnsdóttir, writer
11:20-11:30 Closing
Stefanía Guðrún Halldórsdóttir, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Landsvirkjun, Chairman, Almannarómur
The event is in partnership with the Consulate General of Iceland in New York, American Scandinavian Foundation and Almannarómur