Fríður Sigríður Jónsdattir

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Fríður.

**Fríður Sigríður Jónsdattir** (born 16 July 1985) is a Velkanian politician and astrophysicist who has served as Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation in the second Sif María Vilhjálmardattir cabinet since 2018. She has additionally served as a member of the Orthing since 2014, and is a member of the Liberal-Conservative Party.

Fríður was born in Hveranæyjar, and graduated from Narísandur Junior College in 2005. After graduating, she enrolled in the University of Velkania, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics in 2008. She opted to continue her education, receiving her master's degree in 2010, and later a doctorate in 2016, both in astrophysics. While a student, Fríður participated in a number of research endeavors in the field of astrophysics, and aspired to become the first Velkanian astronaut. She began her political career in 2014, after being elected to parliament in the 2014 election. In 2018, she was nominated to serve as Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation in the second Sif María Vilhjálmardattir cabinet.

## Early life and education

Fríður was born on 16 July 1985 in Hveranæyjar to parents Jón Pál Hrafnarsson (born 1950) and Hjördis Dísa Sigjónsdattir (born 1953). Her father worked as a mechanical engineer, while her mother is a professor of geology at the University of Velkania. Fríður grew up as the youngest of three children and only daughter; her elder brothers are Magnús Gísli (born 1982) and Rafn Pétur (born 1983).

Fríður began her education in 1991, attending a local, public primary school in Hveranæyjar. While in primary school, Fríður was noted to be a gifted student, and won a nationwide children's science competition in 1994, at eight years old. Fríður graduated from primary school in 2001, subsequently enrolling in Narísandur Junior College and commuting from Hveranæyjar to Narísandur to attend school; while there, she studied a natural sciences and mathematics program, graduating in 2005.

After finishing secondary school, Fríður enrolled in the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Velkania, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics in 2008. She returned to the school to begin a graduate program shortly afterwards, where she received her master's degree in astrophysics in 2010. After completing her dissertation, she received a doctoral degree in astrophysics in 2016. Throughout her studies at the University of Velkania, Fríður participated in a number of research endeavors regarding astrophysics, and has been published in numerous scientific journals regarding her research on astrophysics.

## Political career

### Early politics

Fríður began her political career in 2014, after being elected to the Orthing following the 2014 election. Fríður was one of a number of candidates included on the Liberal-Conservative party list in the election in order to diversify the party and shed the "old rich men" label that the party had become attached to, as directed by new party leader Sif María Vilhjálmardattir.

Upon her election, Fríður was still a doctoral student at the University of Velkania, and recused herself from her teaching duties as a teaching assistant in order to prioritize her new legislative responsibilities. In 2015, Fríður was included on a list of the most promising new members of parliament by *The Narísandur Daily*. Following the completion of her doctorate in 2016, Fríður received a special commendation by all members of parliament on the floor.

### Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation

Following the 2018 election, Fríður was nominated to serve as Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation in the second Sif María Vilhjálmardattir cabinet. This made her the first woman to serve in this position since its creation.

After her nomination to the position, Fríður focused on expanding research grants awarded to scientists and researchers in the Velkanian Isles, and has additionally worked with Helga Ingibjört Jósteinnsdattir and the Ministry of Education and Culture to strengthen natural sciences and mathematics educational curriculum in the Velkanian Isles.

## Personal life

Fríður began a relationship with Velkanian astrophysicist and researcher Íngolfur Ragn Kristjánsson in 2014, after they had met in their doctoral program at the University of Velkania. They became engaged in 2017, and later married the following year. They have one daughter together: Jóhanna Ólöf (born 2020).

Fríður is fluent in Velkanian, Framish, Ditrovian, and Kashan. She has stated that since childhood her dream was to become the first Velkanian astronaut. In 2018, Fríður confirmed that she was interested in applying for the Royal Ditrovian Astronaut Corps Foreign Officers Program.