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 presented at 25th gathering in biosemiotics, Rotterdam

Today I presented my paper "Ecological semiotics" on the first day of the 25th Annual Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is held at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, August 25-29th. Some 55 people attended.

"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.

«Wasted GDP in the USA» scheduled for presentation at ISQOLS 2023 on August 23rd

I have been notified by the conference organizers that my paper «Wasted GDP in the USA» has been scheduled for presentation as part of Session 6J, “Well-being Indicators” at 2023 International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies 21st Annual Conference: "Toward a People First Economy: A World to Win" (Rotterdam, the Netherlands, August 21-26th). The session takes place Wednesday August 23rd at 9-10:30 am., with my paper scheduled for 9.44-10.06. 

See the preliminnary conference program - as well as authors overview and keywords overview.

Abstract for ISQOLS 2023: "Wasted GDP in the USA"

I have just submitted the abstract below to the ISQOLS 2023 organizers:

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Wasted GDP in the USA

Abstract

Many believe that the purpose of economic growth is to improve human welfare. Any economic activity has some degree of environmental impact, with higher activity as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) typically involving a more considerable environmental impact. In light of this circumstance, economic growth can be conceived of as wasted if it is not accompanied by improved welfare. In this paper, a concept of “wasted GDP” is introduced. In this perspective, GDP is wasted if it does not support welfare. By estimating what portion of a country´s GDP is wasted, we can assess how effectively the country promotes welfare. The paper is focused on a case study assessing the performance of the United States of America (USA), based on analysis of Human Development Index data. The USA started out as no. 2 in the world by HDI in 1990, but has since been sliding down the list in terms of ranking. While by 2010 the USA was no longer among the world´s 10 most developed countries by this measure, by 2021 it was no longer among the world´s 20 most developed countries. The average US citizen has an income that is considerably higher than the average income in most other countries, including in most rich countries. But despite solid economic growth, over the last three decades the USA has fallen behind several other highly developed countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). 27 countries, large and small, now outperform the USA in terms of nonincome human development, relating to the Health and Education dimensions of HDI. Of these, 22 countries outperforms the USA by nonincome HDI despite having a lower GNI per capita than the USA. I stipulate the share of US GDP that is wasted by comparing US HDI performance with the HDI performance of better performing countries by nonincome HDI that have a lower GDP per capita than the USA. I also estimate ecological pressures related to the USA´s suboptimal human development performance, specifically US CO2 emissions and material footprint related to wasted GDP.

Wasted growth paper scheduled for presentation at virtual ISQOLS 2020 conference

My presentation "Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA" has been scheduled for presentation at the virtual ISQOLS conference (International Society for Quality-of-life Studies) on Thursday August 27th at 14-16 (Rotterdam time), as part of the session “Growth, Poverty and Well-being”. My presentation is for 30 minutes.

To present at virtual version of International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies 18th Annual Conference

Luckily, I have been notified by conference organizers that International Society for Quality-of- Life Studies 18th Annual Conference, which was to be held in physical format in Rotterdam, the Neterlands 25-28th, will be held in various virtual formats. I have communicated to the organizers that I would like to present my accepted paper "Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA" at a live joint-session webinar August 25-28th.

ISQOLS 2020 cancelled

I have been notified that the 2020 conference of the International Society for Quality-of-life Studies (ISQOLS), planned for Rotterdam August 25-28 has been cancelled, at least in the initially planned format.

See also: 

Abstract for ISQOLS 2020: Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA 

Wasted growth paper accepted for presentation at ISQOLS 2020 (Rotterdam)

Wasted growth paper accepted for presentation at ISQOLS 2020 (Rotterdam)

I have been notified by the scientific committee of the 18th annual conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, to be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands August 25-28, 2020, that my paper "Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA" has been accepted for oral presentation.

Abstract for ISQOLS 2020: Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA

Yesterday I finished and submitted the abstract below for the 18th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS 2020), to be held in Rotterdam in August.

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Wasted and wasteful growth in the USA

If the purpose of economic growth is to improve human welfare, then assessments should be made as to whether or not growth in fact contributes to improved welfare. By investigating Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Gross National Income (GNI), Human Development Index (HDI) and inequality data, this article evaluates to what extent economic growth in the United States of America (USA) has benefited its population since 1990, the year in which HDI was launched. Comparisons are made with the Nordic countries. These are about as rich as the USA, but known for an alternative model of development, the Nordic welfare model, which is known for being focused on equality and equal opportunities. A notion of wasted growth, defined as real GDP/GNI per capita growth not accompanied by improved non-income Human Development, is introduced. Furthermore, the phenomenon of wasteful growth, understood as GDP/GNI per capita growth that only results in marginal improvements in non-income Human development, is investigated. The investigation is performed by looking into the components of HDI, namely average income, life expectancy and number of school years, and by comparing nonincome HDI values with GDP/GNI per capita growth rates. I further calculate nonincome IHDI values, i.e. inequality-adjusted nonincome Human Development values, for the period covered, to look into what difference inequality makes in evaluations of wasted and wasteful growth. The rather mediocre HDI performance of the USA in recent years begs the question: Is US growth wasted on the rich?