Jacob Tom´s ph.d. defence completed; attended

Today I attended the trial lecture and ph.d. defence of Jacob Lee Tom at University of Stavanger. The theme of the trial lecture was “Travelling Concepts: A Methodological Challenge”, while Jacob´s ph.d. thesis is titled "Radical Moderation: Time and History in Twentieth-Century Norwegian Literature". Opponents were Sissel Furuseth (University of Oslo) and Zoltàn Boldizsàr Simon (Bielefeld University, Germany). I have co-supervised Jacob along with Dean Krouk from University of Wisconsin-Madison, while my UIS colleague Tyson Ashley Retz has been main supervisor.

Unfortunately I had to cancel my participation in the doctoral dinner due to a health emergency.

10 appointments this week; 190 + 3 so far this Autumn

With 10 scheduled appointments this week including 3 ph.d. defense-related appointments - and 3 days of sick leave Monday to Wednesday - I have so far this Autumn attended 190 scheduled meetings/appointments and 3 conferences.

2 meetings Friday; opponent at Juan Mendoza-Collazos´ ph.d. defense at Lund university, Sweden, this weekend

On Friday I had 2 meetings at UIS. 

This weekend I have been faculty opponent at the ph.d. defense of Juan Mendoza-Collazos´, who defended the thesis "Agency and Artefacts: A cognitive semiotic exploration of design" at Lund university, in Lund, Sweden, December 17th. My presentation and opposition in dialogue with the candidate went on for about two and a half hours. Some 35 people attended, most of which physically.

Related to the ph.d. defense, I also attended an informal dinner Friday evening, and a celebration party Saturday evening.

4 scheduled appointments

Today I have attended 4 scheduled appointments, including - digitally - the trial lecture and ph.d. defense of Samita Wilson.

To be opponent at Juan Mendoza-Collazos´ ph.d. defence

I will be the opponent at Juan Mendoza-Collazos´ ph.d. defence of the thesis "Agency and Artefacts: A cognitive semiotic exploration of design", which is to take place at Lund university, in Lund, Sweden, on December 17th 2022. More info and link to the ph.d. thesis here.

Doctoral defense of Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen Seip attended

Today I have attended the trial lecture and doctoral defense of my sister Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen Seip. Her thesis is entitled "Playing our way: Participation, recognition and creativity as resources for growing up across cultures". The defence was hybrid and included the candidate´s physical presence, with a limited audience, at Ansgar høyskole (Ansgar university college), and transmission from University of Oslo and the work places of the opponents.

A ph.d. defence chaired - and a meeting attended

Today I have chaired a ph.d. defence for the third time. The candidate was Steinar Vee Henriksen, who defended his thesis "Norwegian police training for and use of force". He also gave the trial lecture "Theories and approaches to simulation-based training of critical decision-making at the sharp end". At the end of the day he was a doctor. The committee consisted of Kerstin Eriksson, Mikkel Bøhm and Morten Sommer. Some 35 people attended the digital ph.d. defence.

Later in the day I attended a meeting in the faculty administration related to presentation of research activities on new webpages which are to launch in October.

Two meetings, a pick-up and a corona test

Yesterday I attended the faculty leadership group meeting, picked up the outfit of the Dean in preparation of Thursday´s Ph.d. defence which I will chair, took a corona test, and attended the kick-off meeting of a work group established to plan for a cognitive lab at University of Stavanger.

Two meetings

Today I have attended two meetings. First, a planning meeting for this year´s Norwegian animal ethics conference (Dyreetikkonferansen digital edition) - now tentatively titled "Velferd i isolasjonens tid (Welfare in the time of isolation). Then, a test meeting in preparation of tomorrow´s Ph.d. defence, which I will chair.

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.

Online Ph.D. defence attended

Today I have attended the online Ph.D. defence of Memory Jane Tembo, held in Teams.

Two firsts: A digital ph.d. defence and a Zoom meeting

Today I have attended/watched the trial lecture and beginning of ph.d. defence of Nina Hjertvikrem (UIS Business School). This was the first digital trial lecture and ph.d. defence ever at University of Stavanger - and was held partaking in the ph.d. programme in social sciences, which I am heading.

I have also attended my first Zoom meeting - in the biosemioticians´ cave, as it were.

A meeting; guidelines for digital Ph.d. defense

Today I have attended another faculty meeting, this time an expanded office manager meeting also including other staff and the faculty leadership. The corona virus situation is still dominating most work.

Meanwhile, I have, among other things, contributed to drafting guidelines for digital Ph.d. defenses at the University of Stavanger, which will take effect soon.

Second Ph.D. defense preceded over

Today I have preceded over the trial lecture and doctoral defense of Cato Hemmingby. He defended the ph.d. thesis "Terrorists and Targets: A Relationship Founded on Bad Intentions, Limited Capacities and Risk Willingness". His supervisors were Tore Bjørgo and Odd Einar F. Olsen. The dissertation committee consisted of Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen, John Morrison and Brynjar Lia.

PhD defense of Lukasz Andrzej Derdowski presided over

Today I have for the first time ever presided over a PhD defense, following a trial lecture - wearing an academic gown. The doctoral candidate, Lukasz Andrzej Derdowski, was successful. The PhD defense involved a dissertation committee consisting of Evert van de Vliert (Groningen), Mariateresa Torchia (Monaco) and Olga Gjerald (Stavanger).