“Reconstructing the nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene” presented at the conference "Henrik Steffens – The Prophet of the Anthropocene?"

Today I have presented my paper “Reconstructing the nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene” at the conference “Henrik Steffens – The Prophet of the Anthropocene?” at Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger, Norway. Some 25 people attended.

Abstract for Henrik Steffens conference in Stavanger September 2023:

Today I have submitted the abstract below to the organizers of a conference on the work of Henrik Steffens that is to be held at Museum of Archaeology, organized by University of Stavanger on September 8-9th, in relation to the 250 year anniversary of his birth. I am an invited speaker.

***

Title: Reconstructing the nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene

By Morten Tønnessen

In earlier work, I have addressed “Steffens’ ideas about organic meteorology: From the Totalorganismus to Planetary Health?” (forthcoming chapter, 2023). Here, I noted that discussion of humans´ place in nature has received renewed attention in the two last decades following the rise of the Anthropocene discourse, where the “Anthropocene” designates the current geological era characterized by environmental changes induced by human agency, and observed that this new context for theorizing on humans´ place in nature potentially reactualizes Steffens´ work. In this presentation, I will treat relations between Steffens´ work and the contemporary Anthropocene discourse more in-depth. Particularly, I will ask in how far Steffens´ work can be informative with regard to understanding how humans understood their place in nature around the time when many claim the Anthropocene actually started, in the wake of the industrial revolution following the invention of the steam engine in 1786.

Invited speaker at Steffens conference in Stavanger Autumn 2023

I have been invited as a speaker to a Henrik Steffens conference to take place in Stavanger September 8-9th 2023 at Museum of Archaeology, Stavanger.

3 meetings - including one on ph.d.project at Museum of Archeology

Today I have taken part in three meetings. This included a budget meeting, and a meeting on a ph.d. project anchorded at Museum of Archeology and related to Cognitive lab where I might be a tentative co-supervisor.

Public lecture on humans as global species given at Museum of Archaeology

On Tuesday November 5th I gave a public talk at Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger entitled "Mennesket som global art" (The human species as global species), as one of this autumn´s "tirsdagsforedrag" (Tuesday lectures). Some 55 people attended. The event lasted for some 90 minutes including questions/comments.

Photos: Helge Sivertsen

Ad for public lecture on global species

This ad is in Stavanger Aftenblad today, ahead of my public lecture tomorrow at Museum of Archeology.

A day full of meetings

Yesterday I attended:

* the weekly leadership group meeting at Faculty of social sciences

* about half an hour of the discussions part of professor emeritus Gunnar Skirbekk´s seminar presentation "Om utfordringar i moderne samfunn", organized by Norwegian School of Hotel Management

* a meeting with the leadership of Museum of Archeology, about our ph.d. program collaboration

* a faculty leadership meeting for Faculty of social sciences (dean, director, vice-deans)

I also met with a bachelor student to discuss possible supervision.

To give popular science lecture at Museum of Archaeology in November

I have agreed to give a public lecture (45 minutes plus discussion) at the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger on Tuesday November 5th. My working title is "Man as a global species" (Mennesket som global art).

Anthropocene lecture by Sverker Sörlin attended

Yesterday I attended an open lecture by environmental historian Sverker Sörlin at Museum of Archaeology, on the Anthropocene, organized by GreenHouse, the environmental humanities initiatives at University of Stavanger. Some 50-60 people showed up and were enlightened.