ABOUT

The Natural Science Institute of Iceland (NSII) is a government agency under the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate. The institute's headquarters are in Akranes, with additional offices in Akureyri, by Lake Mývatn, in Breiðdalsvík, and in Garðabær. Around 80 people work at the institute, conducting research and monitoring of Icelandic nature, land surveying, geographic information management, dissemination of information, and development of scientific collections and databases. The institute also handles a wide range of administrative tasks and plays a significant role in advising on the conservation and sustainable use of nature. 

The main objective of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland is to maintain knowledge about Icelandic nature. The institute's core values are professionalism, collaboration, and open access to reliable data to support increased knowledge and informed decision-making.

Vision

The Natural Science Institute of Iceland aims to be a leading and responsible scientific and academic institution, where research and monitoring of Icelandic nature and reliable geographic information form the foundation of knowledge in service of society.

The history of the NSII goes all the way back to 1889, when the Icelandic Natural History Society was founded.