Election of UiS rector: Why I vote blank

The election of new University of Stavanger rector and pro-rector started today. I have voted - submitting a blank vote. I think that both candidates (Marit Boyesen and Einar Marburg) are too mainstream in their reasoning about university strategy.

Einar Marnburg is a straight-talker - that is a strength - and appears to call for fresh ideas about how to organize work at the university. However, he has not provided many substantial, specific fresh ideas himself during the electoral campaign, and his envisioned university strategy is on most key points very similar to that of Marit Boyesen. Marit Boyesen, on her side, is more experienced than Marburg on broader university policy issues, and has somewhat of an advantage regarding her ability to formulate measured policy ambitions, though her statements are often quite vague and sometimes not committing enough.

8 hours of teaching

Today I taught for 8 hours in Examen philosophicum at UiS Business School (SVEXPHIL4, lecture and 3 seminars) and Department of Media, Culture and Social Science (SVEXPHIL6, lecture). Today´s topic was different kinds of explanations.

Draft of introductory chapter finished

Yesterday I finished the draft of the introductory chapter to the book work-titled Animals in the Anthropocene, "Introduction: Once upon a time in the Anthropocene", which I am co-authoring with Kristin Armstrong Oma.

CFP for 3rd Code Biology conference (Urbino)

The call for papers for the Third International Conference in Code Biology (Urbino, Italy, 24-28 May 2016) has now appeared, see CFP (and conference website). Abstract deadline is January 15th.

Acknowledgements section drafted

Today I´ve drafted the Acknowledgements section for the book work-titled Animals in the Anthropocene, to appear on Lexington Books next Spring.

Environmental seminar presented on CODA dance festival webpage

Here´s the thematic presentation of the seminar "Hva er galt med naturen" [What´s wrong with nature?], which was held yesterday, at the webpages of CODA Oslo International Dance Festival: Sic. 

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Deep ecology talk given at contemporary dance seminar

Deep ecology talk given at contemporary dance seminar

Yesterday I participated in a seminar, "Hva er galt med naturen?" [What´s wrong with nature] arranged by Bærum kulturhus in cooperation with/as part of CODA – Oslo International Dance festival, at Bærum kulturhus in Sandvika. The 2 hour seminar followed a 1 hour contemporary dance show by Roosna and Flak, "Wild Places: Mountain". The seminar featured me, the coreographer/dancer Kenneth Flak and Nikki Schei (Norwegian green Party) and was chaired by Kyrre texnæs. I introduced the seminar with my presentation "Dypøkologien til Arne Næss" [The deep ecology of Arne Næss].

Rector candidates debating in UiS debate forum

The electoral campaigns ahead of the election of rector and pro-rector for University of Stavanger, starting October 27th, are reflected in several posts these days in the UiS debate forum, UiS Debatt, including from rector candidates Marit Boyesen and Einar Marnburg. 

Open meeting with Marnburg and Johnsen attended

Today I have attended an open meeting where two of the candidates at the election of rector for University of Stavanger, Dean Einar Marnburg and Head of Department Gro Johnsen, were presented, in dialogue with the audience. The meeting was targeted at Department of Health Studies and Department of Social Studies. I asked a few questions on the candidates´ thoughts about research, and the relation between rector and university director.

I have not decided who I will vote for, if anyone (the other candidates are Rector Marit Boyesen and Dag Husebø).

4 more hours of teaching

Today I have given a seminar in Examen Philosophicum at University of Stavanger´s Department of Social Studies, on the topic consequentialism and virtue ethics, the third this week. I will give a further seminar in a little bit before heading home.

4 hours of seminars

Today I taught for 4 hours in Examen Philosophicum at University of Stavanger´s Department of Social Studies. I gave two seminars, on the topic consequentialism and virtue ethics.

Lecture on descriptive theory of science

Today I lectured in Examen philosophicum at UiS Business School (SVEXPHIL4) and Department of Media, Culture and Social Science (SVEXPHIL6). Today´s topic was descriptive theory of science, with emphasis on Thomas Kuhn and Paul Feyerabend.

Academia.edu now with poorer functionality

I don´t quite like the new version of Academia.edu. The functionality is poorer with regard to editing and ordering of talks. Nevertheless, I keep updating my Academica.edu profile page.

Facebook event launched for CODA dance festival seminar

Next Wednesday, October 21st, I´ll participate at a seminar (in Norwegian) called "Hva er galt med naturen?" [What´s wrong with nature?], at Bærum kulturhus (see post below). A Facebook event has now been launched by Bærum Kulturhus.

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To take part in environmentally themed mini-seminar during CODA dance festival

Elections for UiS board to be held late November; I will run

Elections for the new University of Stavanger board are due November 24-30th, with nomination deadline November 11th. I intend to run again. Today I was informed that the functioning time for  the representative for temporarily employed education and research staff will be 1.1.2016 to 31.7.2017, i.e. one and a half year (vs. usually 1 year).

Revised program for conference "Animals in the Anthropocene"

In early September, I revised the conference program for "Animals in the Anthropocene: Human–animal relations in a changing semiosphere" (University of Stavanger September 17-19). The revised program (6 pp) is available here.

To contribute to Biosemiotics SI on Constructive Biosemiotics

I have recently been invited to, and agreed to contribute with an article to a forthcoming Special issue of the journal Biosemiotics, on "Constructive Biosemiotics" (guest-edited by Tommi Vehkavaara and Alexei Sharov). My paper will focus on the (Uexküllian) epistemology of biosemiotics. A full paper is due by September 2016.

Another seminar on ethical trade attended

This morning I attended the first half of a seminar organised by University of Stavanger´s Work group on ethical trade (of which I am a member) in collaboration with Ethical Trading Initiative Norway, targeted at suppliers to the public sector.

Seminar on ethical trade attended

Yesterday evening I took part in a seminar organised by University of Stavanger´s Work group on ethical trade (of which I am a member) in collaboration with Ethical Trading Initiative Norway, targeted at suppliers and NGOs.

Research dissemination - human perceptions of wolves and other animals

The last couple of weeks I´ve been in dialogue with Benedicte Pentz in University of Stavanger´s Communications department in relation to a research dissemination article which will be published on the Norwegian research webpage Forskning.no, among other places. The article is about the field work I´ve been involved in on human perceptions of wolves and other animals. Today we met to complete the article.

The journal Politics and Animals launched; first issue out now

The open access journal Politics and Animals, published by Lund University (Sweden), has now been launched, with the publication of its first issue, featuring contributions by Will Kymlicka and others.

I am in the Associate Editorial Collective (editorial board) of the journal, along with a group of good people.

8 hours of teaching - political philosophy

Yesterday I taught for 8 hours in a row, in Examen Philosophicum at University of Stavanger´s UiS Business School (SVEXPHIL4, lecture plus 3 seminars) and Department of Media, Culture and Social Science (SVEXPHIL6, lecture). The topic for the lecture was political justice, or more specifically distributive justice.

"Human perceptions of animals" chapter revised

Today I´ve revised the chapter "Human perceptions of animals: A multimodal event analysis of interview data" (co-written with Paul Thibault, for the collective monograph Semiotic Methods in the Study of Human-Animal Interactions, due next Spring).

UiS invites to seminar on ethical trade

On Monday October 12th, University of Stavanger´s working group on ethical trade invites to an evening seminar on ethical responsibility in trade, cf. the university webpage (in Norwegian). I am a member of that working group.

Parts of semiotics review article proof-read

Today I have proof-read parts of the review article "A hundred introductions to semiotics, for a million students: Survey of semiotics textbooks and primers in the world".

See also:

Review article on semiotics textbooks to be published in Sign Systems Studies

Second editorial for Biosemiotics written

The last couple of weeks I have contributed to the second editorial for Biosemiotics written by Alexei Sharov, Timo Maran and me, entitled “Organisms reshape sign relations”. The editorial will appear in Biosemiotics 8(3) (December). 

Course description for bachelor thesis in child welfare revised

Earlier this week I revised the course description for bachelor thesis in child welfare at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies (course code BBABAC).

Review article on semiotics textbooks to be published in Sign Systems Studies

I have just been informed that a review article I contributed to while I was a PhD student at University of Tartu´s Department of Semiotics (2007-2011) will be published in the next issue of Sign Systems Studies. The article was originally commissioned by Semiotica.

The article is entitled “A hundred introductions to semiotics, for a million students: Survey of semiotics textbooks and primers in the world", and is written by Kalevi Kull, Olga Bogdanova, Remo Gramigna, Ott Heinapuu, Eva Lepik, Kati Lindström, Riin Magnus, Rauno Thomas Moss, Maarja Ojamaa, Tanel Pern, Priit Põhjala, Katre Pärn, Kristi Raudmäe, Tiit Remm, Silvi Salupere, Renata Sõukand, Katre Väli and myself.

This will be my fifth publication in Sign Systems Studies.

Paperwork prepared - reimbursement for conference trips

Today I have prepared paperwork in order to get expenses reimbursed from University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies in relation to participation at two conferences - namely NASS IX (Tartu) and Code Biology 2 (Jena).

Fifth interview in NRK P2´s Verdibørsen

Today, in a NRK Rogaland Studio on Ullandhaug in Stavanger, I was interviewed for public Norwegian broadcaster NRK P2´s Verdibørsen, by Aase Cathrine Myrtveit. The topic was the role of animals in the Anthropocene. The interview, which is a spin-off from the conference "Animals in the Anthropocene" (see previous posts), will air in a couple of weeks or so.

"Animals in the Anhropocene" abstract book composed; seen in print

Today I saw the abstract book for the conference "Animals in the Anthropocene" in print for the first time, upon returning to my University of Stavanger office after 14 day paternal leave.

I composed and edited the abstract book (76 pp) a few days ahead of the conference. The abstract book was printed in 85 copies (by Attende).

Lecture on political freedom

Today I have lectured in Examen Philosophicum at UiS Business School / Department of Media, Culture and Social Sciences, for the first time after my 14 day paternal leave. Today´s topic was political freedom.

Uis received 33 proposals for external board members, including my 2

Today I asked the University of Stavanger university director John Møst whether I could get to see the minutes from the board meeting October 1st concerning UiS´ nominations for external board members (2016-2019) (this part of the meeting was closed). I did not get the document, but was informed (via Assistant director Sonja Meyer) that the nomination committee received 33 proposals, and that all were listed in the case document which was presented to the board. The UiS board, based on the recommendation from the nomination committee, has nominated 6 men and 6 women, some of which might be appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

See also:

External UiS board members proposed

8 hours of teaching

On September 14th I taught for 8 hours in a row - first a 2 hour lecture, then 3 times 2 hour seminar, all in Examen Philosophicum at UiS Business School (seminars, lecture) / Department of Media, Culture and Social Sciences (lecture).

5 exam papers graded in delivery room

In mid-September, just as my wife was about to give birth, I graded five exam papers for University of Stavanger´s Department of health studies (Examen Philosophicum for nursing students, course code SVEXPHIL2).

To be commentator at concluding symposium for Lund University´s Centre for cognitive semiotics

I´ve agreed to be one of the commentators at the concluding symposium for Centre for cognitive semiotics, which will take place December 17th at Lund University, Sweden. The symposium language will be Swedish (cf. Seminars).

17/12: All-day symposium, summarizing the program "Centre for Cognitive Semiotics" (2009-2014) Pufendorf institute (Note: In Swedish)

"Human Perceptions of Wolves and other Animals in Contemporary Norway" presented by Laura Kiiroja

On Saturday September 19th, my and Paul Thibault´s presentation "Human Perceptions of Wolves and other Animals in Contemporary Norway" was given at the international conference "Animals in the Anthropocene: Human–animal relations in a changing semiosphere" (University of Stavanger September 17-19th). Our paper was presented by Laura Kiiroja, our research colleague.

Conference "Animals in the Anthropocene" held in Stavanger

The international conference "Animals in the Anthropocene: Human–animal relations in a changing semiosphere" was organised on University of Stavanger September 17-19th, with related events September 20th. Some 79 participants attended the conference. Feedback has been positive. 

Although I could not be in Stavanger for the conference, I had regular contact with Kristin Armstrong Oma and Laura Kiiroja, members of the Local organising committee, on organisational matters.

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Father again; not attending "my" conference