Lunch lecture at the County Governor of Rogaland

Today I gave a lunch seminar at Fylkesmannen i Rogaland (County Governor of Rogaland, a federal function in the counties), for employees in their Agricultural department and their Environmental department, titled "Rovdyr og natur fra Amazonas til Hjelmeland". Some 30 people attended.

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.

Book chapter on cultural background of predator conflict in sale soon; book launch planned

The book Rovviltet på Agder, edited by Tor Punsvik, will be available for sale October 15th and launched at Nordli bookshop at Evje on October 24th. Here is the publisher´s (Bokbyen forlag) webpage for the book.

Wolf chapter revised and expanded

I have revised and expanded my chapter "Rovdyrstriden: Det kulturelle bakteppet", an invited contribution to a book on large predators in Southern Norway. Now approaching a full draft (currently close to 5.000 words).

Predation paper given at MAC4

Today I presented my paper "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" in the session "Considering wildlife I" at the 4th international Minding Animals Conference, held in Mexico City. Some 12 people were present.

Abstract for MAC4: "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators"

I have just submitted the abstract below to the organizers of Minding Animals Conference 4 (Mexico City, January 17-24th 2018).

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The Semiotics of Predation and The Umwelten of Large Predators

 

This paper aims to present fundamental findings related to the semiotics of predation, and point out a few typical features of the Umwelten (lifeworlds) of large predators.

Carnivores are emblematic of the brutality of nature in that, apparently, in order to live, they have to take lives – as most animals do. Carnivores are generally associated with predatory behaviour, although not all carnivores are predators. Predators thus form a subcategory of carnivores, and are correctly associated with killing – causing death, fear and, to varying degrees, suffering.

In general, when preying on other animals, predators intend to kill, but they do not kill because of any malicious intentions. Nevertheless, historically, predators have a reputation for being beasts ruled by hunger and are still, perhaps unfairly, looked upon as iconic murderers.

What all carnivores have in common is that they eat meat and that they hunt and/or scavenge. As a subcategory of carnivores, besides eating meat, large predatory carnivores have in common that they hunt and kill other animals. In terms of the four main functional cycles referred to by Jakob von Uexküll in his Umwelt theory, predators are thereby characterized by the functional cycle that involves food. The key contrapuntal relation involved in the Umwelten of large predators is, from this perspective, that of predator and prey. Whereas for predators, prey have the functional tone of food, for prey, predators have the functional tone of an enemy – a lethal threat.

These common features of large predator Umwelten indicate selective empathy. However, as any social animal, large predators also, to varying degrees, engage in a number of positive social relations.

Book chapters proof-read

Today I have proof-read my contributions to the forthcoming book Animal Umwelten in a changing world: Zoosemiotic perspectives.

"The semiotics of predation" - proof queries answered

I have just answered editorial queries related to my forthcoming book chapter "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators".

SAMKUL application "Umwelt Theory For Our Time" completed and submitted

Yesterday I completed and submitted an application for Research Council of Norway´s SAMKUL scheme (on the cultural conditions of societal development), "Umwelt Theory For Our Time" (a rework of my Young Research Talents application from last year).

Meeting on revised research application; registration for PRE-FRIPRO

Today I met with an advisor in the research department of UiS to discuss a revision of my "Umwelt theory for our time" research application. I will apply for a second - and last (I am turning 40) time this Spring within the scheme "Unge forskertalenter" (Young research talents) at Research Council of Norway. Also, I have registered for the university´s PRE-FRIPRO program this year too - but will only take part in the last workshop, April 14th, where I will present my revised application for a (critical) panel.

Large predator chapter approved

My chapter "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" has been approved and sent to language editing.

See also:

Chapter "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" revised

Preliminary program for The Wolf Symposium distributed; two scheduled events March 8th

Today a preliminary program for The Wolf Symposium 2016, to be held in Vålådalen, Sweden, has been distributed by email. Exact times for program posts are not included, but have been communicated to those on the program.

My talk "Marked for life – Ethical questions concerning management of and research on wolves" (to be held in Norwegian, with Powerpoint in English) is scheduled for the afternoon of March 8th, probably at 14.15-15.00.

The panel discussion on ethics in research and management is preliminarily scheduled for March 8th at 16.15-17.00 or so. In addition to me and Katarina Cvek, Maria Hörnell Willebrand and the chair Sverre Sjölander (see previous post linked to below), it is now communicated that it will feature Olof Liberg (representing SKANDULV and Grimsö Wildlife Research Station).

See also:

Discussion on ethics in research and management scheduled for The wolf symposium (Sweden, March 2016)

Chapter "The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" revised

Today I finished revising my forthcoming book chapter «The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators», based on editorial feedback. At 14-15.000 words, this will be one of the longest pieces I´ve published.

See also:
Large predators chapter completed

"Wolf land" article referred to in NINA overview report

My 2010 article "Wolf land" is referred to in a recent report from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) which gives an overview of status for knowledge on management of large predators in Norway. The reference is made in attachment 1, which lists "Scientific publications".

References:

Linnell, John D.C. & Torkild Tveraa (eds) 2015. Kunnskapsstatus og kunnskapsbehov for forvaltning av rovvilt i Norge. NINA report no. 1195. Trondheim: NINA.

Tønnessen, Morten 2010. Wolf Land. Biosemiotics 3.3: 289–297 (online version, published April 23, 2010: DOI: 10.1007/s12304-010-9077-x).

Discussion on ethics in research and management scheduled for The wolf symposium (Sweden, March 2016)

As a follow-up to my talk "Merket for livet – Etiske spørsmål knyttet til forvaltning av og forskning på ulv" [Marked for life – Ethical questions concerning management of and research on wolves] at Vargsymposiet [The wolf symposium] 2016 in Vålådalen, Sweden, a discussion session has been scheduled. The discussion session is entitled "Etik i forskning och forvaltning" [Ethics in research and management], and will feature me, Katarina Cvek (Djurförsöksetiska nämnden [Committee for ethics of animal experiments]), Maria Hörnell Willebrand (Naturvårdsverket [Swedish Environmental Protection Agency]) and a wildlife researcher.

Large predators chapter completed

In the night between December 25th and 26th I completed the chapter «The semiotics of predation and the Umwelten of large predators" (previously titled "The Semiotics of Wild Carnivore Management"), for the collective monograph Animal Umwelts in a Changing World: Semiotic Studies of human-animal relations (forthcoming, Tartu University Press).

Meeting in Rendalen

Today I have met, along with my collaborator Paul Thibault, with the outfield consultant in Rendalen municipality.

Research application plans presented, feedback received at PRE-FRIPRO workshop

On March 18th I presented my research application in process “Umwelt theory for our time” at a PRE-FRIPRO (cf. previous posts) workshop at University of Stavanger. I got feedback from Merete Vadla Madland (the national IOR Centre of Norway), Dag Oppen Berntsen (Research Council of Norway) and others.

SAMKUL application evaluation received

Today I was informed (upon requesting information, which had not arrived to my collaborator the Project Manager) that our 2012 SAMKUL research application (see previous posts, from 2012) got the grade 4 (out of 7) in the international peer-review. The 6-page evaluation report made quite good sense.

In the application I was the prospective Assistant Project Manager.

Interview in Norwegian weekly Mandag Morgen on species conservation and reintroduction

May 24th (in no. 20/2013) an extensive article entitled "- Vil gi mer rom for villmark" [- Wants to give more space for wilderness] was published in the Norwegian weekly Ukebrevet Mandag Morgen. I am one of those interviewed in the 5-page article, referred to as Associate professor at University of Stavanger. In the 1 page or so that reiterates the interview with me, I support George Monbiot's stance with regard to rewilding, but emphasise that today's threatened species should be given priority. In the Norwegian context this includes the four large predators wolves, brown bears, lynx and wolverine, which I stipulate will only be close to universally accepted in a couple of generations. With these predators Norwegian ecosystems will be more complete and self-regulating. I further state that I generally support reintroducing species that have gone functionally or totally extinct in Norway during the last few hundred years but that are today present in other parts of Europe. I also refer to the Anthropocene notion, and state that in my mind exiting the Anthropocene in the long term (i.e., in the scope of a few hundred years) is an ethical imperative.

In 2008 I freelanced writing for the same publication (see searches on correct and incorrect spelling of my name), with a total of 5 articles researched and written.