3 appointments

Today I have had 3 scheduled appointments, including my weekly meeting with the office manager and preparation for live radio tomorrow.

#8,5

Today I have had an article writing day with work done on my "Nosology and semiotics" chapter and, marginally, my book Captured, and some 700 words written. Altogether I logged 8,5 writing days and 3.354 words written in January.

Google Scholar: 642 citations, 132 in 2021; i10-index 26

According to Google scholar (cf. my profile) my research has by now attracted 642 citations (+12 since January 8th), including record-high 132 citations in 2021 (+8 since January 8th). My i10-index is now 26 (+1 since January 8th). My h-index remains 14.

So far 3 citations have been registered in 2022 publications (+3).

My biosemiotic approach to phenomenology criticized in article by Zixuan Liu

The article "Sign-free Biosemantics and Transcendental Phenomenology: a Better Non-Metaphysical Approach to Close the Mind-body Gap" by Zixuan Liu (Department of Philosophy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) has just been published in Biosemiotics. It includes criticism of my approach to phenomenology in the context of biosemiotics, and more specifically "Uexküllian phenomenology". Excerpts (in selection):

Tønnessen et al. (2018: 326-327) have argued that “it does likewise not make sense, from a biosemiotic point of view, to say that there are non-semiotic phenomena”, and argue that “a strictly Husserlian concept of mind is much too narrow to capture all biosemiotic phenomena”. ... On an initial reading, the objection is that Husserl’s theory of meaning is based on phenomenal consciousness, yet we lack robust evidence that this form of consciousness is to be found in primitive forms of life. This argument is implicit in Tønnessen (2015) and Tønnessen et al. (2018), where we find the claim that “a bacterium” has only “non-phenomenal Umwelt experience” because it is not “endowed with mind” (2018: 326). If this is right, it is unjustifiably anthropomorphic to apply Husserlian concepts to biosemiotics. I do not intend to provide strong evidence for the existence of phenomenal consciousness in primitive forms of life, but at least a weak form of quasi-mind thinking can be found in our conception of microbiology. (p. 6)

Husserl would have strongly repudiated subsequent work in biosemiotics that identifies his views with anthropocentrism: “Umwelt theory challenges central dogmas in current phenomenology, starting with the misguided idea that all phenomena are human phenomena” (Tønnessen et al., 2018: p. 328). The difficulties discussed so far merely indicate that phenomenology should reform itself while at the same time reforming biosemiotics. In doing so, it will become possible to tackle primitive forms of life in a scientific manner. p. (7)

Registrations in CRISTIN for 2021 completed; 19 posts vs. 293 all-time

I have now completed registration in the Current Research Information System in Norway (CRISTIN) for 2021, with 19 posts. All-time, since I started registering in CRISTIN in 2012, I have registered altogether 293 posts, or 29,3 posts per year on average.

The 2021 registrations includes a co-written book, 4 journal texts, 3 newspaper chronicles and a letter to the editor, 4 interviews (3 of which on UIS online platforms and related to UIS activities), 4 conference talks and 2 seminar/workshop talks.

My annual number of CRISTIN posts have been significantly lower the last couple of years than in 2019 when number of posts peaked at 44 following 13 national media appearances (link below).

See my profile

See also:

Registrations in CRISTIN for 2020 completed; 20 posts vs. 274 all-time

Update on 2020 CRISTIN registrations

2019 registrations in Cristin; record number of activities reported

1 meeting

Today I have attended a meeting between Universities Norway and the Norwegian Directory of Health with regard to plans for establishing work placement offices in the municipalities of Norway.

#7,5

Today I have had an article writing day with some 500 words written altogether on my second wasted growth article, for which I also made a part figure, and in terms of disposition for a new, GDP-related article (literature overview) to be co-written with my research assistant and intended for submission to the Norwegian journal Samfunnsøkonomen. 

Number of writing days this Spring is up to 7,5.

3 meetings

Today I have attended 3 scheduled meetings, all one-on-one.

1 meeting

Today I have had 1 meeting. I also do some WorkPlan updates etc.

4 meetings

Today I have taken part in 4 scheduled meetings. This included the Spring´s first staff meeting, which was attended by 47 people digitally.

3 meetings

Today I have attended 3 scheduled meetings. This included a meeting on financial report for 2021 and budget for 2022 for the department.

#6,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to my chapter "Nosology and semiotics" and book project Captured, with some 700 words written altogether. Number of writing days this Spring is up to 6,5.

#5,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to my wasted growth articles, with two part figures and some 300 words added to the second article, and some thinking about the conceptual article I am now developing with a research assistant, and the possibility of singling out specific criticism of HDI in a shorter text format. Number of writing days so far this Spring is up to 5,5.

Mention of concept "Umwelt transition" in University of Tartu news story

My concept "Umwelt transition" is mentioned in a news story from university of Tartu, "Research news: binge eating, sexually transmitted infections, zoosemiotics and rainfalls" which includes a description of Mirco Cerrone´s ph.d.:

Zoosemiotics helps to understand interspecies communication  Interspecies communication is a hotly-debated topic in ever-expanding environments like cities, where it shapes the quotidian interactions of different animal agents, including humans. In a recently defended doctoral thesis, the interspecies communication taking place in hybrid environments was analysed semiotically, focusing on the interaction of humans and apes in zoological gardens and research laboratories. It was analysed through the lens of zoosemiotics, enabling the researcher to abandon an anthropocentric perspective and adopt that of other species. The umwelt model used in the research proves to be an inspiring and powerful tool that we can use to (partially) access the world of other organisms. In the thesis, the author develops the concept of "umwelt overlap", namely the idea that the umwelt should not merely be understood as a species-specific nor as an organism-specific model, but should rather be expanded to encompass areas of shared meanings. The thesis shows how interaction can lead to mutually intelligible languages that allow two different species to communicate. For instance, the acquisition and usage of new signs remarkably modify the semiotic environment of different animal species and is therefore linked to the concept of umwelt transition. The study also reveals that animals in captivity can shape institutional practices and other human-made sign systems, such as animal handling practices. The research proposes several practices to improve animal welfare in captivity.   

Read more in the doctoral thesis.

2 meetings and 2 job interviews

Today I have chaired 2 job interviews and taken part in 2 scheduled meetings.

4 + 1 meetings

Today I have attended 4 scheduled meetings and one more.

4 meetings impromptu meeting included

Today I have attended 4 scheduled meetings including one that was invited to today. This included the Spring´s first department leadership group meeting, and the weekly faculty leadership group meeting.

3 meetings

Today I have attended 3 scheduled meetings. This included a meeting with the county authority related to a partnership on public health.

#4,5; adjusted Sunday writing day habit

Today I have had half an article writing day, with some further editing done in my "Neurosemiotics across species" book chapter, and some 500 words added to my chapter "Nosology and semiotics".

From now on I will keep writing days on Sundays restricted to end at 4 p.m., to allow somewhat more time for other weekend activities, such as clearing the stuff I brought home from my second office almost a year ago.

Total number of writing days this Spring is up to 4,5.

#4

Today I have had an article writing day involving a meeting with my research assistant, some thinking about a conceptual/theoretical wasted growth article, and about 100 words added to my second and third wasted growth article. Number of writing days this Spring is up to 4.

2 meetings and a job interview

Today I have chaired a job interview and attended two scheduled meetings.

3 meetings and then 3 job interviews

Today I have attended 3 scheduled meetings and chaired 3 job interviews. Meetings included a meeting on candidate of psychology study.

Ph.d. defense for Maria Gussgard Volckmar-Eeg

Today I have attended the trial lecture and ph.d. defense of Maria Gussgard Volckmar-Eeg. I have also taken part in the department´s celebratory event at this occasion, and will now this evening attend the dissertation dinner.

A meeting, a Fagforum, and 2 job interviews

Today I have attended a scheduled meeting, chaired this Spring´s first Fagforum at the department, which featured Simone Grassini and was attended by about 20 people online, and chaired 2 job interviews.

2 meetings

Today I have attended 2 scheduled meetings. This included my weekly meeting with the office manager.

Deputy member of working committee for UHR Helse og sosial

I have been appointed as deputy member of the working committee (arbeidsutvalg) of UHR Helse og sosial (which is a national organ for health and social studies) for Spring 2022.

#3

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to proof-reading my chapter "Neurosemiotics across species", resubmitting my article "Wasted growth - case study: The American dream or nightmare?" (to Humanities and social sciences communications, cf. recent post on rejection), and working on my chapter "Nosology and semiotics", with some 200 words written.

Total number of writing days so far this Spring is up to 3.

Google Scholar: 630 citations, of which 124 in 2021; i10-index 25

According to Google Scholar my research (cf. my profile) has by now attracted 630 citations (+15 since December 26). This includes 124 citations in 2021 (+14 since December 26). 

My i10-index is now 25 (+1 since December 26), meaning that 25 of my papers have been cited at least 10 times each.

My h-index remains 14.

#2

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to contributing to finishing the article now titled "Recreation in the outdoors – exploring the friluftsliv experience of adolescents at residential care" which I co-author with Joakim Jiri Haaland, my ph.d. student (first author). Some 100 words net were written in the process. Total number of writing days this Spring is up to 2.

3 meetings

Today I have had 3 scheduled meetings. This included a work group meeting in relation to our development of a master in psychology.

A job interview

Today I have chaired a job interview. There were suppose to be two.

4 meetings

Today I have attended 4 scheduled meetings. This included the year´s first faculty leadership group meeting, and a first meeting with my research assistant.

3 meetings and a call

Today I have had three scheduled meetings plus an impromptu telephone meeting with my doctor. The meetings included my weekly meeting with the office manager. I am working from home this week.

#1

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to resubmission of my first wasted growth article, some planning and organizing, and some work on my book chapter "Nosology and semiotics", with some 300 words written. Number of writing days so far this Spring is 1.

Article rejection

My article "Wasted growth - case study: The American dream or nightmare?" has been rejected by the Journal of Economic Growth.

Council for animal ethics issues consultative statement on ethics of zoos; my role

Norway´s Council for animal ethics has issues the consultative statement "Etiske grenseoppganger for hold av dyr i dyrepark" (loosely: Ethical limitations for the keeping of animals in zoos). I have been main responsible for composing the text, along with Guri Larsen (though such texts are always ultimately consensus products).

Summing up 2021 in terms of work hours

In 2021, I logged 3.114 work hours. This compares to an average work week of 59,7 work hours (holidays included).  This is my third-longest work week ever, beaten only by 2011 (when I finished my ph.d.) and 2012 (my first year as an associate professor and about the time up until I became a father), and compares to 184,5% of a normal work week.

Other highlights: As expected, the category "UIS" increased the most and reached record levels, while research and book projects had a significant decline. Also the broad category "academic" reached a record level, at the cost of literary projects and "other tasks".