Opinion piece "Hvor grønt har Universitetet i Stavanger blitt?" published in Khrono

An opinion piece I wrote today, "Hvor grønt har Universitetet i Stavanger blitt?" (in reply to Harald N. Røstvik´s opinion piece "Er UIS fortsatt "Oljeuniversitetet i Stavanger"?") has been published in Khrono.

Uis received 33 proposals for external board members, including my 2

Today I asked the University of Stavanger university director John Møst whether I could get to see the minutes from the board meeting October 1st concerning UiS´ nominations for external board members (2016-2019) (this part of the meeting was closed). I did not get the document, but was informed (via Assistant director Sonja Meyer) that the nomination committee received 33 proposals, and that all were listed in the case document which was presented to the board. The UiS board, based on the recommendation from the nomination committee, has nominated 6 men and 6 women, some of which might be appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

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External UiS board members proposed

Two candidates for UiS rector

There are two candidates for rector of University of Stavanger ahead of upcoming elections - Marit Boyesen (with Dag Husebø as pro-rector), the current rector, and Einar Marburg (with Gro Johnsen as pro-rector), currently the Dean of Faculty of Social Science. The linked electoral programs are in Norwegian.

I happen to have met all four at different occasions.

No merger UiS / HSH

As detailed in a news story posted yesterday (in Norwegian), the board of University of Stavanger (UiS) decided yesterday that it will not merge with Stord/Haugesund University College (HSH). The board´s decision was unanimous.

See also previous posts (including UiS university director proposes not to merge with HSH).

To grade Ex.Phil. papers for University of Bergen

I have agreed to grade some 40 exam papers in the course Examen Philosophicum at University of Bergen, for students at Faculty of Social Sciences. The deadline is in January.

In sum this implies that I will be involved at grading of exam papers at no less than four universities this year (UiS, UiA, UiO, UiB).

First social studies personnell gathering attended

Today I attended, for the first time, the personnell gathering (meeting) at University of Stavanger's Department of social studies. I was introduced to my new colleagues.

UiS opening ceremony attended

Monday 18th of August I attended the opening ceremony of the Autumn 2014 semester at the University of Stavanger, which included a speech by Minister of Education Thorbjørn Røe Isaksen and entertainment.

Second lecture in Ex.Phil. given at Department of social studies

Today I gave the second lecture this Autumn in Examen Philosophicum at University of Stavanger's Department of social studies, for child welfare students. The topic was: What is philosophy and ethics?

Ex.Phil. introduced to 200 students

On Monday 18th of August I introduced the course Examen Philosophicum to some 200 students at University of Stavanger's Department of social studies (ca. 15 minutes x 2). The students study child welfare and social work respectively (bachelor).

First lecture in Ex.Phil. given at Department of social studies

Today I gave the first lecture this Autumn in Examen Philosophicum at University of Stavanger's Department of social studies, for social work students. The topic was: What is philosophy and ethics?

Title of September 2015 conference (Stavanger) decided; Anthropocene theme

The title and theme of the September 17-19th 2015 conference to be organised by the Norwegian research group of the Estonian-Norwegian research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis" will be "Animals in the Anthropocene - Human-animal relations in a changing semiosphere". This has now been decided by the conference's local organising committee.

UiS Director of communications signals proposed debate pages will be considered

In response to my debate article "Debattsider i Univers?" [Debate pages in Univers?] two days ago, Anne Selnes, Executive Editor of the magaine UniverS and Director of communications at University of Stavanger, has written the reply "Debattsider i UniverS" [Debate pages in UniverS]. Here, she explains the history of communications policy related to the magazine, says a major evaluation of communications policy is underway, and that my suggestion can be considered in that context.

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Debate article addressing lack of debate pages in UiS magazine Univers

All Norwegian universities asked to map and explain petroleum research

In response to the debate on the research ethics of petroleum research, where I have taken part as one of many, all Norwegian universities were asked by Norway's National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT) to map their petroleum research and to explain how they relate to research ethics in this context (see article in Forskerforum, "NTNU forsvarer oljeforskningen" [NTNU defends oil research], March 18th).

Debate article addressing lack of debate pages in UiS magazine Univers

Today a letter to the editor by me entitled "Debattsider i Univers?" [Debate pages in Univers?], concerning the magazine of the University of Stavanger, Univers, has been published at the debate pages of University of Stavanger. The magazine currently has no debate pages, which I think is a shame for an academic publication of this kind.

New office

Today, on my first day at the University of Stavanger since the summer, I have been in a process of moving from one office (KA-U-106) to another (KA-A-215). I am still located in the same building.

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Employed by Department of social studies

Employed by Department of social studies

Since August 1st I have been employed by University of Stavanger's Department of social studies, in a 50% position as associate professor in philosophy (I have previously been employed by Department of health studies, where my only formal affiliation here and now is the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis", in a 10% position). My current contract at Department of social studies runs until July 31st 2015.

Chair of local organising committee of 2015 UiS conference

At today's meeting in the local organising committee of the 2015 conference which is to be organised in Stavanger by the Norwegian research group of the Estonian-Norwegian research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis", it was decided that I am the chair of this local organising committee. I will thus be the main responsible for convening the conference, which will be held September 17-19th 2015.

Gunnar Kvåle cites research ethics chronicle

In a commentary article entitled "Er norsk petroleumsforskning etisk forsvarlig?" [Is Norwegian petroleum research ethically justifiable?], published in the online magazine Energi og Klima, Professor emeritus Gunnar Kvåle (University of Bergen) cites what "Haugan og fem andre forskere fra universitetene i Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo, NTNU og Tromsø" [Peter M. Haugan and five other researchers from the universities of Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo, Tromsø and Norwegian University of Science and Technology] wrote in a recent chronicle. This refers to "Forskning for klimavennlig omstilling" [Research for climate-friendly restructuring], which I co-wrote along with Kvåle and others.

Rector comments on NENT statement in UiS news article; article links to Utopisk Realisme

In response to this Wednesday's statement of Norway's National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT) on the research ethics of petroleum research, the rector of University of Stavanger, Marit Boyesen, has yesterday issued comments in form of a UiS news article ("UiS-rektor ønsker NENT-uttalelsen velkommen" [UiS rector welcomes NENT statement]). The newsarticle links to several news articles on the NENT statement, and also to my blog post in my Norwegian language blog Utopisk Realisme,  "Hvordan vil rektor følge opp NENTs forskningsetiske vurdering av petroleumsforskning?" [How will rector follow up NENT's research ethical consideration of petroleum research?]. Among other things Boyesen says that the NENT report will be included in the university's future strategy work.

See also:

UiS debate letter: How will rector follow up NENT's statement on petroleum research?

Website of UiS master in Pre-Hospital Critical Care (PHCC)

University of Stavanger's master programme in Pre-Hospital Critical Care, which was recently approved by the university board (see previous posts), has launched its programme webpage. Application deadline for the first round is August 2nd.