On August 18, 2014, Mr. Dagfinnur Sveinbjornsson of the Climate Research Fund, Iceland, visited ITPCAS to learn the latest progress of the Third Pole Environment (TPE) program. His visit was greeted by ITP director Prof YAO Tandong, its vice director Prof. MA Yaoming, and relevant personnel in the department of science and technology, as well as the TPE program office.

Prof. Yao briefly reviewed the scientific cooperation between ITPCAS and the University of Iceland, and the involvement of the President of Iceland in the promotion of the TPE program internationally. Personnel in the TPE program office were then invited to introduce the latest progress of the TPE program since its foundation in 2009, as well as the capacity building effort of the program in the education and training of international young scientists, mainly from the Third Pole region.

Mr sveinbjornsson indicated his intension to mobilize the scientific exchange program between ITPCAS and the University of Iceland. He showed special interest in the young scientists training program for the region, and expressed his intension to bring funds from Iceland to help more talented young scientists in the region to benefit thereupon.