Chronicle "Life in Earth" published in Dyrenes forsvarer

My chronicle «Livet i Jorden» (literally: Life in Earth) has been published as my annual guest commentary in the magazine of Dyrebeskyttelsen, a Norwegian animal protection NGO, Dyrenes forsvarer no. 4, 2025, (pp. 4–5). The same text was previously published by forskning.no with a different headline.

See also:

Popular science chronicle on life on and in Earth published at forskning.no

Council for animal ethics meeting attended

Today I have attended the first meeting of the newly appointed Council for animal ethics (in Norway), at Thon hotel Opera in Oslo. I represent animal protection NGOs in the council.

Reappointed a member of Council for animal ethics for the period 2023-2027

Today I was informed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that I have been reappointed to Norway´s Council for animal ethics, where I have served since 2017, for the period 2023-2027, as a representative for the animal protection NGOs. The appointment is valid from July 18th 2023 (i.e., today) until June 30th 2027.

"The ethics of laying hen genetics" featured in Viten newsletter

Our article "The ethics of laying hen genetics" is featured today in the newsletter "Viten" #7, 2020 (distributed today), distributed by the Norwegian Animal Protection organization Dyrevernalliansen (by email):

Avlsproblemer for verpehøns
Avlen for intensiv egglegging har medført at verpehøns har betydelige velferdsproblemer. Forskere tilknyttet GroupHouseNet-prosjektet har kartlagt statusen internasjonalt, som domineres av fire avlskonserner. Foreløpig tilbyr ikke disse konsernene alternative raser med påvist betydelig bedre velferd, og konsernene unnlater å publisere informasjon som kunne ha blitt brukt til å utvikle slike bedre rasealternativer.

Kilde: Fernyhough M. et al., "The ethics of laying hen genetics", Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 33:15-26, 2020.

Our article is Open Access and therefore freely available for download.

Council for animal ethics meeting attended

Yesterday I attended the meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics, in Oslo. A productive meeting.

Appointed as member of Norway´s Council for animal ethics 2019-2023

Today I have been notified by Norway´s Ministry of Agriculture and Food that I have been appointed as a member of Council for Animal Ethics for the period July 1st 2019 to June 30th 2023 as the representative for animal protection NGOs, with Guri Larsen as deputy member. I served in the same position 2017-2018.

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.

Continued interest in Council of Animal Ethics

I have signaled that I am interested in remaining a member of Norway´s Council for Animal Ethics, where I currently represent animal protection NGOs (since 2017). Animal protection NGOs make suggestions to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (two sets of candidates), whereas the Ministry appoints members of the council. The next period officially starts January 1st 2019.

Council for animal ethics statement mentioned in Dyrevern viten

The latest Dyrevernalliansen email newsletter, Dyrevern Viten, makes mention of and links to Norway´s Council for animal ethics´ statement on tagging of wild animals, which I drafted (under the heading "Viltmerking ute av kontroll").

Meeting of Council for animal ethics attended

Today I have attended the meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics at the Veterinary institute, Oslo. Interesting, and things to learn, as last time... This time concerning fish behavior (Atlantic salmon), for one thing.

Norwegian Environment Agency cancels import, release of ducks after ethics statement etc.

The Norwegian Environment Agency has withdrawn a permission to import ducks (specifically mallards) for release for hunting purposes. One of the reasons is that Norway´s Council for animal ethics, where I am a member representing animal protection NGOs, has deemed this practice to be unethical. News story in Norwegian here.

Meeting in Council for Animal Ethics attended

On Monday 20th of November, I took part, for the first time, in a meeting of Norway´s Council for Animal Ethics, at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute in Oslo, as the representative for animal protection NGOs. The meeting lasted all day, and included topics such as research ethics guidelines for animal experimentation, large carnivore management (raised by me), and welfare issues in industrial aquaculture.

Meeting with animal protection NGOs to prepare council work

Today I took part in a meeting at the Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance (Dyrevernalliansen) with them, The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals (Dyrebeskyttelsen) and Guri Larsen, currently deputy representative for animal protection organizations in the Norwegian Council of Animal Ethics (Rådet for dyreetikk), to discuss my role as representative for animal protection NGOs there.

Not able to attend first Council for animal ethics meeting

I have given notice that I cannot attend the excursion and meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics, which I have just joined as a regular member representing animal protection NGOs. This is due to teaching obligations at University of Stavanger.