Interviewed on animal ethics in UIB video production "Etiske dilemmaer"; launched on Viten-TV

About a week ago, philosopher Espen Gamlund and the University of Bergen launched the video series "Etiske dilemmaer" (Ethical dilemmas) on Viten-TV, a Norwegian online platform for academic video content. The first episode, "Dyr" (Animals), features interviews with me, Stefan Riedener and Aksel Braanen Sterri, while Gamlund acts as presenter and interviewer.

SDG Conference Bergen 2023 attended virtually

The last couple of days I have watched parts of SDG Conference Bergen 2023 online.

Complaint grading for UiB

Today I took part in concluding complaint grading of an essay in environmental ethics, course code FIL236, for University of Bergen.

Complaint grading for UiB

The last few days I have taken part in complaint grading of two exam papers in University of Bergen´s course "Introduction to environmental ethics" (FIL106).

Five UiB exam papers complaint graded

Today, along with the internal examiner, I finished complaint grading five exam papers in Examen Philosophicum at University of Bergen, as the external examiner.

UiB Post.Doc. application withdrawn

Since I have signed a contract with University of Stavanger for a permanent position as Associate professor of philosophy, I have now withdrawn my University of Bergen Post.Doc. application.

See also:

Post.Doc. application - UiB

Post.Doc. application - UiB

Yesterday I applied for a Post.Doc. position (in philosophy of science) at University of Bergen, with the project "Umwelt theory for our time".

Seven exam papers graded for University of Bergen

Today I finished taking part in examining of seven papers in Examen Philosophicum for University of Bergen (Faculty of social sciences). All exam papers were evaluated by me and fellow examiner Trygve Lavik following complaints from students on their original grades.

Final grading of 42 UiB exam papers

Today I have discussed and agreed with the internal examiner at University of Bergen concerning final grades for 42 exam papers in Examen Philosophicum.

See also:

42 exam papers graded for UiB

42 exam papers graded for UiB

This weekend I preliminarily graded 42 papers for University of Bergen´s Faculty of Social Sciences, in the course Examen Philosophicum (seminar model - course code EXPHIL-SVSEM, groups 1.3 and 2.7). These exam papers are also being graded by an internal examiner, so we´ll still have to discuss and agree on grades in a few days. This was a digital exam spanning over the whole autumn term.

To grade Ex.Phil. papers for University of Bergen

I have agreed to grade some 40 exam papers in the course Examen Philosophicum at University of Bergen, for students at Faculty of Social Sciences. The deadline is in January.

In sum this implies that I will be involved at grading of exam papers at no less than four universities this year (UiS, UiA, UiO, UiB).

Joint chronicle on petroleum research published in Energi og klima

April 11th a chronicle co-written by six researchers including me was published in the online magazine Energi og klima [Energy and climate], published by Norsk klimastiftelse. The chronicle was titled "Forskning for klimavennlig omstilling" [Research for climate-friendly restructuring]. In the chronicle Peter Haugan and Gunnar Kvåle (University of Bergen), Kristoffer Rypdal (University of Tromsø), myself (University of Stavanger), Arne Johan Vetlesen (University of Oslo) and Steinar Westin [Norwegian University of Technology and Science, NTNU] argue that petroleum research is problematic in ethical terms and that energy research should be aligned with necessary climate change policies.

Norwegian-Estonian research projects: Details

Here are the results of the call under the Norwegian-Estonian Research Cooperation Programme, annunced September 2nd.

As the overview of the funded projects shows, 13 projects (out of 170) got funding - including "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis" (EEA Norway Grants EMP 151), where I am involved as the head of the Norwegian research group. More than 500 experts are said to have participated in the evaluation of the applications. While University of Tartu is involved in 8 of the 13 projects, including mine (where Timo Maran is project leader), University of Bergen is involved in 6 projects on the Norwegian side. EMP 151 is the only project University of Stavanger is involved in. Altogether 7 different Norwegian institutions are involved in the 13 projects.

In the programme committee that evaluated the applications there were two Norwegians and three Estonians.

See also:

Research project application on "Animals in changing environments" successful

Why I applied for one job, but not another (the sad state of philosophy of language and mind)

Given that I am 36 and only have a temporary position as Associate professor (at University of Stavanger's Department of Health Studies, where I enjoy working), I am looking for a more long-term position. About a week ago I applied for the job as rector at Nansenskolen (a 4-year appointment), a Norwegian folk high school with some 16 staff and 70 students. 

I considered, but did not apply for, a permanent philosophy position at University of Bergen, since this specific position presupposed specialized research competence in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, which are both predominantly areas of Analytical philosophy and typically carried out in a way I cannot identify with in the mainstream (as a sidecurrent participant, however, I gladly confess that both of these areas are of course of crucial importance to me as they should be carried out).

UiB's presentation of panel on nature view

Here's a link to the University of Bergen's (UiB) presentation of last week's panel discussion at Studia bookstore on nature view and practice (see also more extensive post on the panel). Titles of our intros were not included. I am presented as Associate professor, University of Stavanger.

Panel discussion on nature view in Bergen

One week ago, last Wednesday, I participated in a panel discussion on the theme of "Naturforståelse og praksis" [Nature view [or nature understanding] and practice], along with Fern Wickson (UiT), Jon Hélen Pedersen (HiSF) and Sondre Båtstrand (UiB). The panel discussion, which lasted for 2 and a half hour and included extensive introductions by some of us, took place at the academic bookstore Studia in central Bergen. My introduction was called "Jeg, ulv: Eksistensens økologi" [I, wolf, The ecology of existence], and was first of all a presentation of my chapter in the English language anthology Environment, Embodiment and Gender, which was highlighted at the event. Wickson and Hélen Pedersen contribute to the same anthology. The panel discussion was organized by one of the editors of the anthology, Ane Faugstad Aarø (UiB) in practice and formally by UiB's research group on phenomenology and existentialism. There were about 20 people present all included.

Phenomenology research group confirmed

One of the looser affiliations I have in my academic work is one as a member of sorts of the research group for phenomenology and existentialism at the University of Bergen (forskningsgruppe for fenomenologi og eksistensfilosofi). The University of Bergen's Department of Philosophy has just evaluated all existing research groups, and confirmed the continued existence of the abovementioned research group - as well as the other four existing research groups. In addition, five new research groups have been established, including one in environmental philosophy. All research groups will be evaluated in a year's time, and will have to meet a number of criteria, including having an (inter)national network, having ongoing activities, and publishing academic work.

It is not clear whether I count as a regular member of the group, or rather as an associated contact.

What's the best university in Norway?

Some time back I wrote about the Times Higher Education world ranking of universities. At first only one Norwegian university - the University of Bergen - made it to the top 200-list, but the University of Oslo has later been places as no. 186 (see 'Editor's note' at the end of the ranking), which schockingly places them only as Norway's second-best university (on other rankings, such as the Shanghai ranking, UiO remains Norways highest ranked university).

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This peculiar little story envelops in my Norwegian language blog, Utopisk Realisme ("Hvilket er Norges beste universitet?").