Peer-review for BioSystems

 I have recently done a peer-review for BioSystems.

Google scholar: 1700+ citations; updated Google Scholar history

According to my Google Scholar profile my research has to date attracted a total of 1702 citations (+21 since September 30th). This includes 129 citations so far in 2026 (+17 since September 30th). My h-index remains 22 and my i10-index 48.

Meanwhile, I have passed another 100s milestone - 1700 citations. As for my Google Scholar history, on Google´s count I passed 1.000 citations in December 2023, 1.100 citations in April 2024, 1.200 citations in September 2024, 1.300 citations in January 2025, 1.400 citations in June 2025, 1.500 citations in December 2025, and 1.600 citations in May 2026. For a detailed history further back (100-1000 citations, achieved 2016-2023), see my 2023 blog post "Google Scholar: 1000 citations; updated Google Scholar history".

Interview on how we treat animals differently aired on TVL

On Tuesday this week (October 27th) I was interviewed by the Norwegian TV channel TVL, on why we treat different animals differently (such as eating some but not others). The interview, which was conducted (online) by journalists Vemund Sødal and Hanna Pettersen and lasted 7-8 minutes, aired the same evening, in the programme TVL magasinet (subscription required).

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Interviewed by TVL for evening programme

#26

Today I have had half a book writing day devoted to my book Being and Sign and applying for research leave at the University of Stavanger´s faculty of Social Sciences, where I work (at Department for social studies). Apart from the book project the research leave application also includes tentative plans for application work related to the ERC Synergy Grant scheme. This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 26 including 17 book writing days.

Interviewed by TVL for evening program

Today I was interviewed (online) by TVL about how we treat animals. The interview will air tonight around 8 p.m. in the programme TVL-magasinet. The journalists interviewing me were Vemund Sødal and Hanna Pettersen.

#25,5

Today I have had half a book writing day devoted to my book Carbon Capture and the Future of Environmentalism, which is forthcoming with Bloomsbury Academic. I went through the final page proofs and made a few remarks, and then reported these to Integra, which handles the production of the book. This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 25,5 including 16,5 book writing days.

Lectures and seminar given in Theory of science MA course

Today I have given three hours of lectures and a one-hour seminar in the master course Theory of science (MSO120), which is offered by the University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies. The topics were phenomenology and hermeneutics. Up to 12 students attended.

Kåkånomics event on the ethics of Norway´s oil fund held, with panel discussion

Today I took part in the Kåkånomics event «Oljefondet og etikken som forsvant» (which translates directly as "The oil fund and the ethics that disappeared"). At the event, which took place at Musikkstuen Påfyll, a pub in the center of Stavanger, an introduction by Cecilie Hellestveit was followed by discussion with me, Espen Henriksen (BI) and Hellestveit, chaired by Helle Stensbak. Some 100 people attended.

See also:

Scheduled to take part in Kåkånomics event on the (lacking) ethics of Norway´s oil fund

Third Ex.phil. seminar

Today I have given the third seminar this semester in Ex.phil. at the University of Stavanger´s Department of psychology (SVEXPHIL-IP) for bachelor and one-year students in psychology. This included repetition and Q&A on issues in political philosophy, Q & A about a compulsory assignment, and discussions. Altogether more than 100 students attended, over two seminar runs.

Sixth Ex.phil. lecture

Today I have given the sixth lecture this semester in Ex.phil. at the University of Stavanger´s Department of psychology (SVEXPHIL-IP) for bachelor and one-year students in psychology. The topic was political philosophy, specifically different conceptions of political justice.

Study program meeting attended

Today I attended the biannual study program meeting related to University of Stavanger´s master in social studies.

#25

Today I have had half a book writing day devoted to my book Carbon Capture and the Future of Environmentalism, which is forthcoming with Bloomsbury Academic. I approved of the press proof (cover and back cover as well as the spine, of which the latter two were new). Moreover, I finished going through and responding to the second page proofs (or revised page proofs), which is organised by Integra.

This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 25 including 16 book writing days.

#24,5

Today I have had half an article writing day, with work done on the wolf socialization article I co-write with Laura Kiiroja. I also went through correspondence related to "Live better" articles. This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 24,5 including 9 article writing days.

Letter to the editor on philosophy and animals published in Nationen in September

On September forth my letter to the editor "Må ikke være filosof for å forstå at dyr lider" (literally: Don´t have to be a philosopher to understand that animals suffer) was published in the Norwegian daily Nationen.

Link to "Contradictionary - an almanac of resistance" online (Open Access)

The book Contradictionary - an almanac of resistance - is available for reading and download (Open Access) here. The book, which was edited by Bernd Herzogenrath and Nicol A. Barria-Asenjo and is published by Open Humanities Press, includes two entries written by me, namely "Environmental quality" and "Pollution". The concept of the book is that it lists and explains terms that have been "banned" (or rather black-listed) by the Trump administration in a research context.

Beyond GDP input given to UN via Spanish government; now available on UN´s Beyond GDP webpage

In late August I sumbitted input to the "Beyond GDP" initiative in the UN system, which was coordinated by the government of Spain. My written input (2 pages), titled "Beyond GDP input", is now available at the UN´s Beyond GDP page under "Documents and reports" - see "Download Non-Member States ZIP file" and locate the file "Morten Tønnessen_Beyond GDP Input" there.

Job interviews attendance; committee work

About a month ago I took part in job interviews with two candidates for a ph.d. position in social work at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies. I was part of the evaluation committee and also contributed to the committee´s assessment report.

#24

Today I have had a book writing day, with work done on the second page proofs (or revised page proofs) of my forthcoming book with Bloomsbury Academic, Carbon Capture and the Future of Environmentalism, which I received today. Moreover, I also pondered upon a possible publication venue for my book project Being and Sign. This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 24 including 15,5 book writing days.

#23

Today I have had half an article writing day, with work done related to planning and rescheduling of writing days, and an interview Federico Comollo conducted with Michael Marder and me. This brings the number of writing days this Autumn up to 23 including 8,5 article writing days.

Scheduled to take part in Kåkånomics event on the (lacking) ethics of Norway´s oil fund

I am scheduled to take part in an event during Kåkånomics, which is held in Stavanger October 21st to 24th, titled «Oljefondet og etikken som forsvant» (which translates directly as "The oil fund and the ethics that disappeared"). At the event, which takes place on Friday October 23rd, I will comment on a presentation given by Cecilie Hellestveit, and discuss the topic with her. The event takes place at Norsk Oljemuseum, Stavanger.