Paper presentation on changing nature view at Oslo "Jakt i endring" gathering

The last two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, I have attended the first gathering in the more-than-scientific network "Jakt i endring" (one of six national networks on conservation and utilization of outer pastures funded by MILJØFORSK and BIOFORSK). The gathering took place at Oslo Science Park.

On Tuesday, I presented my paper "Jakten på det gode liv - pågående endringer i natur- og menneskesyn".

Research network on hunting to be established

A research application I have been involved in for establishing a research network on hunting, "Jakt i endring" [hunting in change], has been funded. It is headed by Ketil Skogen at NINA and will operate 2017-2019.

Interviewed on background of Norwegian wolf conflict on national radio

Yesterday, October 12th, I appeared on national public radio in NRK P2´s program "Ekko", in the story "Hvorfor er vi så redde for ulven?" [Why are we so afraid of the wolf?], along with biologist Barbara Zimmermann (HiH) and sociologist Ketil Skogen (NINA). We were interviewed by Rikke Eckhoff. Available as podcast.

Bekoff to contribute to Norwegian animal ethics conference; concept in English online

The program of the Norwegian animal ethics conference 2013, which will have the theme "Dyrs natur under press: Hvordan vi former ville dyr i vårt bilde" [Animals' nature under pressure: How we shape animals in our own image] and take place in Oslo August 22nd, is in progress. Among the news:

* Marc Bekoff will contribute with a video greeting

* Veterinarian Randi Oppermann Moe and sociologist Ketil Skogen will give lectures

Updates will be announced on the conference website.

Furthermore, an English language version of the thematic concept of this year's conference has been published online. But PS: The conference language is Norwegian.

Book review on wolf conflicts published online in sociology journal

The Norwegian academic journal Sosiologi idag [Sociology today] has published its second issue of 2013 online. It is a Special Issue on "Dyr i samfunnet" [Animals in society], guest-edited by Ragnhild Sollund, and includes my book review of Skogen et al.'s Ulvekonflikter [Wolf conflicts].

Corrrection to my latest post on this review: The Norwegian-language summary does indeed appear - at least online (see here).

See also:

Book review on wolf conflicts completed - summary here

Reference for forthcoming book review on wolf conflicts

Book review on wolf conflicts completed - summary here

This night (sic) I finished a book review on the recently published book Ulvekonflikter – en sosiologisk studie [Wolf conflicts - a sociological study]. My review - which might have to be either shortened (in order to qualify as a book review) or rewritten (in order to qualify as a book essay) - is submitted  to the Norwegian academic journal Sosiologi idag [Sociolocy today], on invitation (by guest editor Ragnhild Sollund), and amounts to some 2.500 words as of now.

Full reference to the book reviewed:

Skogen, Ketil, Olve Krange & Helene Figari 2013. Ulvekonflikter – en sosiologisk studie [Wolf conflicts - a sociological study]. Oslo: Akademika forlag.

While being a monograph in form, and (re)written for the occasion, this book envelopes material from a number of already published English language journal articles, etc. I consider it an important contribution in the Norwegian context.

My review includes an English language summary, which reads like this:

Summary The book Ulvekonflikter [Wolf conflicts] summarizes research conducted by the three authors, which is based on interviews with informants in five Norwegian municipalities. The book is well-written – and important. As they stress, the controversy about wolves can only be explained by taking the larger social context into account, and by interpreting everything expressed with regard to wolves in light of central dimensions of conflict and processes of change. Among opponents of the wolf, it is particularly associated with urbanity and an expanding, educated middle class. Unlike in earlier times, contemporary wolf conflicts are predominantly conflicts between people. Ulvekonflikter succeeds in establishing such basic claims while also being nuanced in its presentation in a way that does virtually all stakeholders justice. Through analysis of beliefs there is broad support for as well as beliefs surrounded by controversy, this book provides valuable advice to policy and management. 

Keywords: Wolf management, attitudes to wolves, beliefs about wolves, wolves as symbols, predators, nature view