#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.

Comments and questions raised in online COEVOLVERS symposium "The significance of semiotics in NBS co-creation"

Today I have featured as commentator in the online symposium "The significance of semiotics in NBS co-creation", which was organised by the ERC-funded research project "Coevolutionary approach to unlock the transformative potential of nature-based solutions for more inclusive and resilient communities (COEVOLVERS)". I commented on presentations by Juha Hiedanpää, Beáta Pántya and Lona Päll, while Riin Magnus chaired the event. About 30 people attended.

See also:

To feature as commentator at COEVOLVERS Nature Based Solutions symposium August 27th

A meeting, a webinar, and an online book presentation

Today I have attended three digital events/meetings. First a book presentation organised by The Greenhouse, with the authors participating online from Australia. Then the meeting in the research committee of University of Stavanger - where I presented status and plans for Network for welfare research; and raised the question of when we can practically return to organizing (at least partially) physical Ph.D. defences. Lastly I attended a webinar held by the research department at UIS with participation from Research Council of Norway for UIS leadership on EU research funding, particularly ERC.

Grade C on ERC Consolidator application

I have received feedback from ERC panel and 5 reviewers for my ERC Consolidator application "Assessing human and animal welfare in the Anthropocene" (AHAWELL). The overall grade was C. I was deemed to be everything from "non-competitive" to "good" and "excellent" (though mostly non-competitive).

ERC CoG application AHAWELL rejected

I have been notified that my ERC Consolidator Grant application "Assessing human and animal welfare in the Anthropocene" (AHAWELL) has been rejected by not continuing to step 2 of the evaluation process.

ERC application finished

I have just submitted the final version of the ERC Consolidator Grant application "Assessing human and animal welfare in the Anthropocene". This is the most ambitious, and longest, research application I have ever written - 13 page Scientific proposal (plus references) with 5 page Extended synopsis. Some 26 pages of text written including CV, early achievement track record etc., and 50+ pages including attachments and online forms.

Proposal summary:

Two of the main challenges of the 21st century is to secure high levels of human welfare for a growing number of humans, as well as to secure the welfare of animals. Until recently, human and animal welfare have for the most part been regarded as separate issues, and there has not been much interdisciplinary research making connections between welfare in humans and welfare in non-humans. The main aim of AHAWELL is to develop practical tools for cross-species assessment of welfare in both humans and animals in the ecological context of the Anthropocene. Given the intrinsic or inherent value of both human and animal individuals, such tools will be required if we are to successfully overcome the environmental crisis while simultaneously pursuing human development.

   Most current methods for assessing welfare are limited by not looking at human and animal welfare in context, and by not accounting for their interrelation. In results, there is a lack of tools for cross-species assessments of subjective welfare. Since self-reporting is not an option in assessment of animal welfare, nor in assessment of all human cases, there is a need for development of new tools. This project makes use of Umwelt theory, originally developed by Jakob von Uexküll, as a basis for such tool development for use in cross-species welfare assessment.

   The specific research objectives of AHAWELL is 1) to develop methodology for Umwelt mapping of human–animal relations, 2) to develop an Umwelt ethogram, 3) to describe key features of current human ecology by mapping global animal species, 4) to use biosemiotic ethics to set welfare standards, 5) to critically analyze the role of income growth for the Human Development Index (HDI), 6) to develop an Animal Development Index (ADI), and 7) to develop novel, cross-species measures of human and animal welfare.

   Successful completion of the project will require interdisciplinary collaboration integrating work done in philosophy, biology and economics.

ERC writing day

Today I have had another writing day focusing on my ERC Consolidator Grant application "Assessing human and animal welfare in the Anthropocene". Some 5 hours... And more to be done tomorrow, and three days next week, before the deadline is upon me.

RCN spin-off version of ERC application planned

I have decided to make a spin-off version of my ERC application in process titled "Assessing human and animal welfare in the Anthropocene", for Research Council of Norway´s FRIPRO scheme, with deadline in April.

Partial draft of ERC application

Yesterday, in the mature evening, I finished a partial draft of my ERC Consolidator Grant application, themed "Assessment of human and animal wellbeing in the Anthropocene". Just some 15-20 pages so far (sic). I am now awaiting a first round of consulting feedback.

ERC budget meeting

Today I have had a meeting with a consultant from the UiS R & D department in relation to my ERC Consolidator Grants application, which is in process.

Oslo proposal writing workshop on ERC Consolidator Grants attended

Today I have attended a workshop on writing successful ERC Consolidator Grant applications in Oslo (FOrskningsparken), held by Research Council of Norway and hosted by University of Oslo.

UiS workshop on ERC grants attended; preliminary ERC project title

Today I have attended a half-day workshop on applying for ERC grants organized by the program area for research "The Greenhouse" with assistance from the University of Stavanger research and innovation unit.

The preliminary title for my ERC Consolidator Grant application is "Assessing human and animal wellbeing in the Anthropocene".

Advisory meeting on ERC application

Today I have attended a Skype meeting involving an advisor from the Research Council of Norway (plus two advisors from University of Stavanger) where I was advised on CV, track record and application writing in relation to my forthcoming ERC Consolidator Grant application, due in February.