Two book reviews for large predator book

Our book Rovviltet på Agder (Tor Punsvik et al.), where I contribute with a chapter, has been reviewed in two newspapers, Fædrelandsvennen and Tvedestrandsposten.

Third, last day of the 6th OECD World Forum attended

After oversleeping, I arrived at the 6th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy around 10 o´clock. The forum will close in a couple of hours. Today the "Perspectives on Global Development 2019" was launched. 

According to this news article, 3.200 people from more than 100 different countries have attended the forum.

Second day of 6th OECD World Forum attended

I have attended the 6th OECD World Forum on statistics, knowledge and policy since all day and will do so until 4 pm, before heading for the centre of Seoul for dinner. Among other things I have heard Jeffrey Sachs´ keynote address, where he had a quite harsh message about the state of current politics internationally, in the US and beyond.

Editorial "Phenomenology and biosemiotics" proof-read

I have just proof-read our editorial "Phenomenology and biosemiotics", forthcoming in Biosemiotics.

Statistics Korea welcome dinner attended

Tonight I have attended the welcome dinner organized by Statistics Korea, at the 6th OECD World Forum for Statistics, Knowledge and Policy in Incheon.

Cuban exchange project featured in UiS intranet news story

There is a news story today on University of Stavanger´s intranett titled "Cubansk utvekslingssamarbeid" featuring the NORPART project I am involved in as member of the Steering Committee. The article features an image from our visit to Havana in January.

First day at 6th OECD World Forum

Here in Incheon I am attending the first day of the 6th OECD World Forum for Statistics, Knowledge and Policy, at Songdo Convensia. Among other things I have heard the opening statement of OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría, and a press conference that involved Joseph Stiglitz and introduced the new report of the High-Level Expert Group on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, "For good measure - advancing research on well-being metrics beyond GDP".

Arrived in Incheon for 6th OECD World Forum

Yesterday I flew from Stavanger via Amsterdam towards Incheon, South Korea, and today I have arrived. This is my first visit to East Asia.

I stay at Orakai Songdo Park Hotel, and have this afternoon registered on-site for the 6th OECD World Forum for Statistics, Knowledge and Policy, which starts tomorrow.

Chronicle in Dagbladet with Siri Martinsen

Yesterday a chronicle that I co-wrote with Siri Martinsen (NOAH - for dyrs rettigheter) was published in Norwegian national daily Dagbladet, titled "Hvor like er mennesker og dyr?" (How similar are humans and animals?)

To write article for "Semiotics of hybrid natures" special issue

I have agreed, upon invitation from guest editors Riin Magnus and Nelly Mäekivi, to contribute with an article to the forthcoming special issue of Biosemiotics "The semiotics of hybrid natures". My paper will be based on my conference presentation "Current human ecology in light of Umwelt theory", held in Tartu during the recent "The semiotics of hybrid natures" conference.

Dyreetikkonferansen 2018 held; video online

Today I chaired and co-arranged Dyreetikkonferansen 2018, the Norwegian Animal Ethics Conference 2018, which had the topic "Hvor like er mennesker og dyr?" (How similar are humans and animals?). Some 100 people attended. The venue this year was NMBU Veterinærhøyskolen.

The conference was streamed. Video is now available via YouTube.

Editorial "Phenomenology and Biosemiotics" revised and submitted

We have now revised our editorial "Phenomenology and Biosemiotics". It will now go to production.

Minding Animals Norway shuts down

Today I attended the annual meeting of Minding Animals Norway along with one more person. We decided to shut down the organization, which has had an inactive board for more than a year.

I have been the chair of Minding Animals Norway since its inception in 2011.

Google Scholar: 351 citations; h-index, h10-index of 10

According to Google Scholar, I now have 351 citations, cf. my profile. This is up 18 since October 1st. 2018 now stands with 48 citations (+8), 2016 with 84 (+5). My h-index and h10-index are now both 10 - meaning that 10 of my articles have been cited at least 10 times each.

Last meeting of Council for animal ethics this term

Today I have attended the meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics, in Oslo. This was the last council meeting in this term. A new council is to be appointed with effect from New year, for a 3 year period. I am hoping to be able to continue taking part in this work.

Autumn´s tenth writing day

Today I finally had this autumn´s tenth writing day (cf. previous posts), with 6 hours devoted to finalizing/revising our editorial "Phenomenology and Biosemiotics" and towards completing my article "Human development, inequality and social risks in Latin-America and the Nordic countries".

Peer-review done

I have recently carried out a peer-review for Plants, People, Planet.

Summary session held

Today I took part in a 1-hour summery session for the MA course "Philosophy of science and research methods".

MC exam questions composed

Today I have composed exam questions for the Multiple Choice exam in Ex.Phil. at Department of social studies.

Minding Animals Norway annual report and financial report

Today I have drafted annual report and financial report for Minding Animals Norway for the last year, to be presented at the organization´s annual meeting this forthcoming Thursday.

Second hunting-themed gathering attended

Today I have attended the second gathering of the Norwegian network "Jakt i endring", at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Oslo.

Formalities

Today I have registered approval of completed compulsory activity in "Philosophy of science and research methods". I have also conducted an "empty" course description revision for Ex.phil. (no change made).

4 last hours of teaching

Today I have concluded this autumn´s scheduled teaching - with seminar 6.4 in Ex.phil. and the fifth seminar in philosophy of science in the MA course "Philosophy of science and research methods".

Seminar 6.3

Today I have taught the third seminar in the sixth and final round of Ex.phil. seminars at Department of social studies.

Updated conference info for NASS XI "Anticipation and change"; Sign Systems Studies special issue planned

I have updated the Call for papers for NASS XI, "Anticipation and change". The updated third Call for papers is available here. Abstract deadline remains December 10th. News include the fact that a special issue of Sign Systems Studies will be based on papers from NASS XI.

Six hours of teaching commencing last week of this autumn´s teaching

Today I have taught for 6 hours in Examen Philosophicum - the last day of teaching for two of four seminar groups, though two seminars still remain the next couple of days. Before the two seminars today I gave the 12th and final lecture, summing up and starting a course in academic writing.

Concluding remarks at closing segment of Hybrid natures conference

Today I contributed with brief remarks, along with four or five other people, at the closing segment of the conference "Semiotics of hybrid natures - Anthropogenic ecosystems, multi modalities, transformed umwelts" at University of Tartu.

MA interview

Here in Tartu at the hybrid natures conference I have been interviewed briefly today by a Master student doing work in ecocriticism on the possible application of Umwelt theory and biosemiotics in that context.

Abstract for NASS XI: "Umwelt trajectories revisited: Anticipating the societal transformation required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21s century"

I have just composed and submitted the abstract below for NASS XI, "Anticipation and change".

***

Title: Umwelt trajectories revisited: Anticipating the societal transformation required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21s century

Abstract: Two great challenges face humanity in the 21^stcentury: To solve an escalating environmental crisis, and to further improve and safeguard human living conditions. However, current policy strategies, such as the UN´s Sustainable Development Goals, in part rely on an outdated model of development that has not proven to be environmentally sustainable (O´Neill et al. 2018).

   The main idea of Jakob von Uexküll´s Umwelt theory (2010) is that living beings relate to signs, and that the lives of all humans, animals and unicellular organisms play out in distinctive subjective worlds, or Umwelten. In Tønnessen 2014 (p. 159) an “Umwelt trajectory” is characterized as

the course through evolutionary (or cultural) time taken by the Umwelt of a creature, as defined by its changing relations with the Umwelten of other creatures. The Umwelt trajectory of a creature is thus the historical path of its perceptual and behavioral dispositions considered from an ecological and phenomenological point of view. This notion represents an aggregate, collective (and evolutionary) equivalent to Uexküll’s notion of the Umwelt-tunnel of a single individual creature.

   In this presentation, I will apply the “Umwelt trajectory” perspective in an analysis of the future societal transformation that is required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21s century. Key questions include: How are our relations to non-humans likely to change in the scope of this century? And how shouldthey change, in order to secure environmental sustainability? How can improved living conditions for humans be pursued at the same time as society is made environmentally sustainable? I will deal with these questions by looking into questions concerning societal development and transformation. 

   The liberty to choose how we want to live our lives, and live in accordance with our core values, is fundamentally important for human autonomy and dignity, and thus also for humans´ satisfaction with life. I will argue for adopting a model of development that aims at maximizing humans´ range of options in the long term, especially in terms of life style choices. An implication is that we should avoid policy strategies that in effect lock us into inflexible development paths, such as e.g. those that would make us highly dependent on specific high-tech solutions.

   The model of development I defend will have to be holistic in the sense that it will have to consider the interests of both humans and non-humans, and the full range of environmental issues. This is required, given that the future path of our societal development will be decisive for environmental sustainability and human wellbeing alike.

References

O’Neill, D. W., A. L. Fanning, W.L. Lamb. & J.K. Steinberger, J. K. (2018), ‘A good life for all within planetary boundaries’, Nature Sustainability, 1, 88–95.

Tønnessen, M. (2014), ‘Umwelt trajectories’, Semiotica,issue 198, 159–180.

von Uexküll, J. (2010), A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans with A Theory of Meaning (Posthumanities 12). Transl. by J. D. O. ́Neil. Minneapolis & London: University of Minnesota Press.

Keywords: environmental crisis, social change, cultural change, environmental change, societal transformation, Umwelt theory, biosemiotics

CFP for 19th gathering in biosemiotics - Moscow

The call for papers for the 19th gathering in biosemiotics has just appeared. The conference will be held in Moscow, Russia, July 1-5th, at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Abstract deadline is January 31st.

Tartu keynote held

Today I gave the keynote, or plenary talk, "Current human ecology in light of Umwelt theory", at the conference "Semiotics of hybrid natures - anthropogenic ecosystems, multi modalities, transformed umwelts" (University of Tartu 8-10 November). Some 30-40 people were present.

Mention of NORPART project on UiS webpage

Our project "Cuban and Nordic welfare" is mentioned in the University of Stavanger news story "Two UiS projects allocated NORPART grants!"

4th research methods seminar, then off towards Tartu

Today I taught the fourth and last seminar in research methods in "Philosophy of science and research methods" - before going by taxi to the airport, heading for Tartu and the conference "Semiotics of hybrid natures: anthropogenic ecosystems, multi modalities, transformed Umwelten."

First NORPART meeting

Another meeting I attended today, with two department colleagues, was a first planning meeting on our new NORPART project "Cuban and Nordic welfare" (effective from January 1st 2019).

Teacher meeting - child welfare

Today I attended a meeting with fellow course coordinators in the bachelor study in child welfare, discussing revision of course descriptions, teaching in research methods, and other issues.

Research methods seminar

Today I gave the fourth seminar in research ethics in the MA course "Philosophy of science and research methods", with two student assistents. Today the focus was on tentative research design. 

NASS board meeting held, chaired

Today I chaired the board meeting of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, via Skype. Among the issues we discussed was matters related to the forthcoming 11th conference of NASS (abstracts due December 10th).

11th lecture

Today I gave the 11th Ex.phil. lecture at Department of social studies this autumn.

UiS webpage for 11th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies

This is the conference page of NASS XI, "Anticipation and change" (Stavanger, Norway June 13-15th 2019) at the website of the host institution, University of Stavanger.

Course description revision in MEE140

I have conducted course description revisions in the course "Philosophy of science and research methods" (MEE140).

NORPART application "Cuban and Nordic welfare" successful

Yesterday we got to know that our project application "Cuban and Nordic welfare" will be funded by Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART), with some 5 million crowns, for the period 2019-2023. This is first of all a student exchange and educational collaboration project. The project involves collaboration between University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies and University of Havana´s Department of sociology.

Our project is the only one with a partner in Latin America, and one of two projects awarded to University of Stavanger.

I took active part in the application work, and am one of 12 members of the project´s "Academic Collaboration Group" (7 from Stavanger) and one of 5 members (3 from Stavanger) in the project´s Steering Committee.

Sixth Verdibørsen appearance this year - on aquaculture

Today I appeared on NRK P2´s Verdibørsen for the sixth time this year, in the segment "Oppdrettsfisk i entall". I was interviewed, along with Lisa Bergan (Cermaq) and Øyvind Håbrekke (the think tank Skaperkraft), by Karen Frivik. Program host was Jostein Gjertsen.

In the program I am presented as working at "Høyskolen i Agder" (the University college of Agder - which became the University of Agder some 10 years ago), but in fact I work at the University of Stavanger.