Conference program composed

Today I have finished composing the program of the conference Animals in the Anthropocene: Human–animal relations in a changing semiosphere (University of Stavanger, September 17-19) - with the assistance of Laura Kiiroja. The program will be distributed to conference participants later today.

Tartu conference plans

I have just arranged my trip to Tartu, Estonia, at the occasion of the 9the conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS). I will be going alone with my soon 3 year old son - the second time I try this.

Manifesto article on biosemiotics and the humanities

This week I was invited, and have agreed, to contribute to a "manifesto" article work-titled "Why biosemiotics needs the humanities", along with about a dozen other biosemioticians. The article is to be submitted to Biosemiotics.

8th NASS newsletter composed and distributed

Some days back, in collaboration with co-editor Inesa Sahakyan, I finished the 8th newsletter of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (12 pp). It has been distributed to all NASS members, including participants of the upcoming conference NASS IX (Tartu, August 17-20).

The Semiotics of Animal Representations sales report

Some days ago I was informed by Brill/Rodopi that the book The Semiotics of Animal Representations, which I edited along with Kadri Tüür, sold 102 copies in 2014.

"Agency in biosemiotics and enactivism" revised

This night I finished revising my book chapter "Agency in biosemiotics and enactivism" (see previous posts), forthcoming in Establishing Cognitive Semiotics.

Petition against oil exploration in the Arctic signed

I am among the ones who signed the petition "Stopp grunnlovsstridig oljeleting i Arktis!" [Stop constitution-violating oil exploration in the Arctic!], along with some 200 others, most of them cultural figures (such as authors). The petition was published in the Norwegian daily Dagsavisen April 27th.

The petition triggered quite a bit of media coverage, including mention on public radio (NRK) and:

Kulturtopper truer med å saksøke staten (NRK)

Felles kamp mot ny oljeleting (Dagsavisen)

"Umwelt and language" proof-read

I have just proof-read my forthcoming book chapter "Umwelt and language". I had to do it manually, since Springer´s e.Proofing system did not work (not the first time).

"The future Umwelten of wolves, sheep and people in Scandinavia" scheduled for presentation August 20th

My paper "The future Umwelten of wolves, sheep and people in Scandinavia" has been scheduled for presentation Thursday August 20th at 14.00-14.30 during the 9th conference of Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (Tartu, Estonia, 17-20 August 2015) - see preliminary program. My paper will be part of the session "Knowledge and environment in move", chaired by Kati Lindström.

CFP - Trace (Finnish Journal for Human-Animal Studies) no. 2

Call For Papers

Trace – Finnish Journal for Human-Animal Studies /// Jälki – Yhteiskunnallisen ja kulttuurisen eläintutkimuksen journaali /// Spåret – Samhälls och kulturvetenskapliga tidskriften i Finland

***

Trace is a peer-reviewed, fully open access online journal that provides a forum for the discussion of human-animal relations from social and cultural perspectives. The journal publishes original research articles, overviews, lectiones praecursoriae, and conference reports, as well as reviews on books, art exhibitions, films, and other media. Trace accepts submissions in Finnish, English, and Swedish.

The second issue of Trace will be out in the spring of 2016. The deadline for articles is 31.10.2015. Other than peer-reviewed submissions (reports, reviews) are expected by 31.1.2016.

The Editor-in-Chief for Trace is D.S.Sc. Outi Ratamäki (University of Eastern Finland & Finnish Environment Institute), who is substituted until 1.8. by D. Sc. (Admin) Nina V. Nygren (University of Tampere, Finland).

For information on submitting, visit the journal’s homepage.

5th code biology conference possibly to be held in Norway

It has previously been preliminarily planned that the 4th International Conference in Code Biology, in 2017, would be held in Stavanger, Norway. It now appears that, instead, the 5th International Conference in Code Biology, in 2018, may be organised in Norway (by me). But a decision will only be made next summer at the earliest.

"Animals in changing environments" featured in RCN slide show on EEA research projects

In the news story "1 milliard til EØS-forskning [1 billion for EEA research]", the Research Council of Norway sums up its experience so far with 145 bilateral research projects carried out in collaboration between researchers in Norway and five East-European countries - the Czech republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Romania. A complete list of all 145 projects is available here.

In Estonian-Norwegian cooperation, altogether there are 12 partner institutions involved, and 73 researchers. An embedded slide show features "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis" (EMP151), for which I am the Norwegian project leader, as an example of an Estonian-Norwegian project (on slide 38, see below).

Vacation plans

I will be on vacation from Tuesday July 21st and until Monday August 3rd (two full weeks).

New home address

This weekend my family and I have moved to a new address:

Harald Gilles vei 5
4633 Kristiansand
NORWAY

My new home office is clearly bigger than the one I had in Kokleheia 3 (also in Kristiansand).

Biosemiotics 12th highest ranked Springer journal in Evolutionary and developmental biology

As an overview published online shows, Biosemiotics is Springer´s 12th highest ranked journal (out of 14) in the category Evolutionary and developmental biology journals, as measured by Thomson Reuters Impact Factor for 2014.

NASS board meeting attended

Today I attended a board meeting of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS). Agenda issues included preparations for the General Assembly to be held in Tartu August 19th.

Petition referred to in the obituary of Helge Ole Bergesen, former UiS research director

Former research director at University of Stavanger (UiS), Helge Ole Bergesen, died on June 29th. In an obituary in Stavanger Aftenblad ("Helge Ole Bergen er død" [Helge Ole Bergen is dead]), the newspaper refers to the petition for restructuring at UiS (see previous posts) that I wrote and co-initiated last autumn, which was signed by Bergesen.

Excerpt (my translation):

[...] he was among the researchers who last autumn signed the petition that demanded a restructuring at UiS, towards a research profile that points forward and takes climate change into account.

16th Gathering in Biosemiotics to be held in Prague

At the General Assembly of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies a few days ago (see separate post), it was disclosed, suggested and decided that the 16th Gathering in Biosemiotics will take place in Prague, the Czech Republic, next summer - convened by Karel Kleisner. It has furthermore been indicated that the 17th gathering might be held in Lausanne, Switzerland (though a decision will only be made next summer).

ISBS General Assembly attended; Kalevi Kull new President of biosemiotic society

On July 2nd, in Copenhagen (during the 15th gathering in biosemiotics), I attended the General Assembly of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS). At the meeting, Jesper Hoffmeyer stepped down as President of the ISBS, and Kalevi Kull was elected new President, the society´s second.

Photos from 2nd code biology conference

Photos from the 2nd International Conference in Code Biology (Jena June 16-20th) are now available online. 

Photo of me presenting at the 2nd International Conference in Code Biology.

Lunch break. Thinking, or just digesting?

Another photo from my presentation - with title slide.

Me left, President Johnson right.

Talking with Jannie Hofmeyr (left) and Tim Ireland (right) outside the conference dinner venue.

Editorial board meeting of Biosemiotics in Copenhagen attended

Yesterday I attended the annual editorial board meeting of the academic journal Biosemiotics, which took place during the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30 - July 4) and was chaired by Alexei Sharov. Some 20-30 people were present. 

Chapter on mentions of animals in Norwegian political programs evaluated; to be revised

Yesterday I received feedback on my chapter "A critical reading of mentions of animals in Norwegian political party programs". A revision is due November 1st.

2014 activities of project "Animals in changing environments" well received

The 2014 activities of the Estonian-Norwegian research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis" (EMP151) have been positively reviewed. The reviewer states the project has involved "a wealth of activities" and that it is "an excellent and well managed project".

Norwegian Animal Ethics Conference 2014 report compiled

Yesterday I finished and submitted the final report for the Norwegian Animal Ethics Conference 2014 (Dyreetikkonferansen 2014) to Dag S. Stiansens stiftelse, which funded the conference via Minding Animals Norway, one of the organisers.

"The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" scheduled for presentation July 1st

Some time back I was notified that my paper "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" had been scheduled for presentation at the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30th - July 4th 2015) on July 1st at 3-3.30 pm. See full program.

"The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" presented at GiB15

Yesterday I presented my paper "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" at the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30th - July 4th 2015). Some 30-40 people were present. For the first time ever, I was alone with my son when presenting - which meant I had to hold him for the duration of the presentation.