Ecosemiotics conference presentation available on YouTube

A video recording of my talk on ecosemiotics from this year´s Gathering in Biosemiotics, which was held in Rotterdam in August, is now available on YouTube. 

Session chaired at GiB25, Rotterdam

Today I chaired a session with two papers at the 25th Annual Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is held at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, August 25-29th.

"Ecological semiotics" paper rescheduled for presentation at GiB25 in Rotterdam August 25th

My paper "Ecological semiotics" has been rescheduled for oral presentation at The 25th Annual Gatherings in Biosemiotics, which is to be held 25-29th of August 2025 at Erasmus University Rotterdam, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Monday August 25th at 3.30 pm (not 10.30 as previously communicated).

Ecosemiotics talk scheduled for presentation August 25th at 25th Gathering in Biosemiotics, Rotterdam

My paper «Ecological semiotics» has been scheduled for presentation on Monday, August 25th at 10.30-11.00 at the 25th Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is to be held at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, August 25-29th.

"Ecological semiotics" accepted for presentation at 25th Gathering in biosemiotics, Rotterdam

I have just been informed that my paper "Ecological semiotics" has been accepted for oral presentation at The 25th Annual Gatherings in Biosemiotics, which is to be held 25-29th of August 2025 at Erasmus University Rotterdam, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Abstract for 25th Gathering in biosemiotics: "Ecological semiotics"

I have just submitted the abstract below to the organizers of the 25th gathering in biosemiotics, which will be held in Rotterdam August 25-29th.

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Ecological semiotics  

ABSTRACT  

This presentation draws on my recently published encyclopedia chapter “Ecological semiotics” (Tønnessen 2024). Ecological semiotics, or ecosemiotics, can be understood as the study of sign use by organisms in an ecological context. In ecology, semiotic phenomena and sign processes occur at different levels of biological organization, and distinctive kinds of sign use is characteristic of different kinds of interspecies interaction. Ecosemiotic studies help to explain how ecological complexity can be understood in semiotic terms, and how sentient organisms interpret their environment and make choices that are informed by their sign use. The basic theoretical outlook of ecological semiotics includes lifeworld perspectives, particularly represented by the Umwelt theory of Jakob von Uexküll (2010). This connects ecosemiotics with phenomenology, subjectivity and agency. In a more rudimentary sense, even plants, fungi and microorganisms have agency which can be framed in semiotic terms. A semiotic approach to ecology is particularly pertinent in the context of human ecology and contemporary discussions concerning environmental sustainability. While ecosemiotics is amply informative applied to general ecology, it is especially pertinent in the context of understanding how human agency and sign use affects the environment at large. Ecological semiotics can help us understand how genuinely human sign use stands out from non-human sign use, and the ways in which human sign use is subject to cultural variation. Crucially, a semiotic approach to environmental issues can be informative with regard to understanding how human behaviour and sign use affects non-human lifeworlds by triggering environmental change which is experienced in sign-mediated ways. This positions ecosemiotics to address issues of environmental sustainability.  

REFERENCES 

Tønnessen, Morten 2024. “Ecological semiotics”. Chapter. Encyclopedia of Ecology (3rd edition) (Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5.  

von Uexküll, Jacob 2010. A foray into the worlds of animals and humans with A theory of meaning. O’Neil, J. D. (transl.). Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press.