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.

Master in philosophy - oral exam

Today I have taken part as an external examiner in the oral defence of a master thesis in philosophy at University of Oslo, via Zoom.

Jacob Tom´s midterm evaluation attended

On Wednesday this week, the 13th of September, I attended Jacob Tom´s midterm evaluation, involving discussion of his ongoing ph.d. work, at the University of Stavanger. I am Jacob´s co-superviser. John Brumo (NTNU) and Helge Jordheim (UIO) served as discussants.

A meeting; 7 + 1 this week; 150 + 3 so far this Autumn

Today I have attended one meeting at UIS. Altogether this week I have attended 7 meetings and a one-day conference - and had 1 day sick leave. So far this Spring I have attended 150 meetings and 3 conferences.

2 meetings, a work lunch and an oral exam

Today I have taken part in two meetings and a work lunch, with the latter involving my first physical meeting with Jacob Tom, a ph.d. student I will be co-supervising for the next 3 years (with Tyson Retz as main supervisor). I also acted as an external examiner at an oral master thesis exam, via Zoom, for University of Oslo.

6 welcome speeches and preparation of master grading

Today I have given a welcome speech to new students six times, divided between the three bachelor degrees of Department of social studies (in psychology, social work, and child welfare). All in actual, physical rooms. I have also prepared grading of a master thesis for University of Oslo.

3 meetings, a presentation of Cognitive lab at the rector´s meeting, and an oral exam

Today I have taken part in 3 meetings, including my weekly meeting with the office manager and the work group meeting on a master in psychology.

I also presented Cognitive lab, along with Kolbjørn Brønnick, at the rector´s meeting, with some 20 people in leadership positions attending.

And, I also served as external examiner at an oral exam at Centre for development and the environment (SUM) at University of Oslo at a Master thesis defense.

A grading meeting and 3 job interviews

Today I have attended a grading meeting with an examiner at University of Oslo, and three job interviews in relation to a ph.d. position at Department of cultural studies and languages (UIS).

A meeting, and an oral exam

Today I have attended the biannual, public health forum meeting in Rogaland (3 hours), and acted as external examiner at the oral exam of Master thesis candidate Lage Nøst, along with Caj Strandberg (UiO) who served as internal examiner.

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.

Tripartite Umwelt model applied and further developed in ecocriticism MA thesis of Hernández

Mauricio Sánchez Hernández has written the master thesis "Mariposas imaginando árboles de oyamel: Representaciones literarias del umwelt de la monarca migrante y del humano en la ecoliteratura de Homero Aridjis" (in Spanish) at University of Oslo. He refers quite extensively to an article, especially with regard to the tripartite Umwelt model:

Tønnessen, Morten (2015). “Umwelt and language”. En: E. Velmezova, Stephen J. Cowley y K. Kull (eds.), Biosemiotic Perspectives on Language and Linguistics (Biosemiotics 13): 77-96. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20663-9_5

The thesis includes a section numbered 2.2.2 and named "El modelo tripartito del umwelt según Tønnessen". Hernández also further develops diagrams based on the tripartite Umwelt model, cf. below (imagen 5, p. 21, imagen 6, p. 21, imagen 7, p. 22).

UiO master thesis defense

Yesterday I acted as external examiner at the oral defense of Adrian Bragstad´s master thesis in environmental ethics at University of Oslo´s Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Arts and Ideas. Arne Johan Vetlesen was internal examiner.

Two meetings and a bachelor thesis graded

Today I have attended two meetings - one on the establishment of a Network for welfare research (with Vice rector for research, research director, and faculty director), and one on digital registration for Ph.d. courses. I have also graded a philosophical bachelor thesis with a scholar at University of Oslo.

MA thesis defense at UiO (environmental philosophy)

Today I acted as external examiner for a master thesis defense in philosophy at University of Oslo´s Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Arts and Ideas, for a thesis with an environmental theme.

Complaint grading for UiO

Today I have taken part in complaint grading of a Master level exam paper in ethics for University of Oslo.

MA interview

Here in Tartu at the hybrid natures conference I have been interviewed briefly today by a Master student doing work in ecocriticism on the possible application of Umwelt theory and biosemiotics in that context.

Oslo proposal writing workshop on ERC Consolidator Grants attended

Today I have attended a workshop on writing successful ERC Consolidator Grant applications in Oslo (FOrskningsparken), held by Research Council of Norway and hosted by University of Oslo.

Verdibørsen interview

Today I was at NRK Rogaland to record an interview with me and professor of criminology Ragnhild Sollund (University of Oslo) on issues related to animal ethics and human dignity.

Two Master defences at UiO

Today I have acted as external examiner at two philosophical Master degree defences at University of Oslo (Norun Pernell Haugen and Hilde Andenæs), both with an animal theme.

UiO examiner contract signed

I have signed a contract with University of Oslo concerning my role as external examiner for two master theses in philosophy, with animal themes, this August.