IACS-5 plenary addresses to be broadcast live via Zoom; links

The plenary addresses at The Fifth Conference of the International Association for Cognitive Semiotics (IACS-5), to be held in Lund, Sweden, August 15-17th with the conference theme "Crises of meaning", will be broadcast live over Zoom. All six are listed with their respective Zoom links in this document.

My Plenary Address “The crisis of mechanistic science seen through the lens of the nature crisis” is held Friday August 16th at 17:15-18:15, and can be followed live online by using this Zoom link.

Talk on phenomenological triangulation given in Cognitive Semiotics research seminar

On Thursday June 1st I gave a talk on phenomenological triangulation in the Cognitive Semiotics research seminar at Lund University, Sweden (online, via Zoom). The title of the talk was "Phenomenological triangulation in the study of animals as subjects of phenomenology – perspectives from cognitive semiotics and biosemiotics" (see event info and abstract here). Some 13 people attended the event, which lasted almost 2 hours including a 1-hour talk.

Presentation "Wasted growth?" given for Human Development Report Office

Today I have given the talk "Wasted growth?" in the research seminar of the Human Development Report Office (UNDP) in New York, via Zoom, with some 13 people attending.

To give presentation on wasted growth at HDRO research seminar

I have been scheduled to give a presentation in the HDRO research seminar (for the Human Development Report Office, UNDP) on March 21st, titled "Wasted Growth?", via Zoom.

Talk on biosemiotics and phenomenology given for "Complexity discussion group" research seminar online

Today I have presented the book Semiotic agency: Science beyond mechanism along with Alexei Sharov in the international web research seminar "Complexity discussion group", chaired by Kobus Marais. Specifically, my part was about biosemiotics and phenomenology. The seminar was attended by some 18 people.

Umwelt/phenomenology paper presented at 21st gathering in biosemiotics

Today I presented my paper "The relevance of Umwelt theory for the theory and practice of phenomenology" digitally live at the 21st Gathering in biosemiotics. The live presentation was watched by some 45 people on Zoom, and was also live-streamed on YouTube (and is also available for later watching).

3 meetings and a course/training

Today I have attended three meetings, including the second staff meeting at Department of social studies this Spring, which I chaired, with about 50 people present via Zoom. I also attended 3 hours of training in following up on the annual employee survey (medarbeiderundersøkelse).

2 meetings and Ph.d. supervision

Today I have attended the weekly faculty leadership group meeting, chaired my first staff meeting - with 50 people attending in Zoom - and taken part in a ph.d. supervision session.

Two meetings, a guest lecture and a work lunch

Today I have had two meetings, and a work lunch related to our committee work on the ph.d. project on the topic of progress.

I also gave a guest lecture for Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), on the topic "Om etikk og bruk av dyr i husdyrproduksjonen" (on ethics and the use of animals in livestock production". Some 20 students attended the digital Zoom lecture, which was also recorded for later use. The lecture was given in the course "Dyrevelferd" (animal welfare, course code HET-203-1).

Session chaired at 20th Gathering in biosemiotics

I have just chaired a paper session at the virtual 20th Gathering in Biosemiotics, involving presentations by Miran Bozicevic, Catherine Legg and Prysca Augustin. Some 70 people attended live via Zoom.

Model of environmental interplay and change presented at 20th Gathering in biosemiotics

Today I have presented my paper "Introducing a three-dimensional, interactive semiotic model of environmental change" at the 20th gathering in biosemiotics, which is being held digitally today and throughout the weekend. Some 70 people watched the presentation live via Zoom. The conference is also streamed via YouTube and recorded for later use.

Lederforum attended

Today I have attended University of Stavanger´s (digital) leadership forum (Lederforum) (in Zoom). The forum was predominantly about the discruptions the corona virus has inflicted upon us.

Meeting in Council for animal ethics; plans for Animal ethics conference

Today I have attended the first ever digital meeting of Norway´s Council for animal ethics (in Zoom). 4 hours including lunch break. The meeting included two lectures in addition to the discussion matters - the lectures were on turkey husbandry (held by Guro Vasdal, Animalia) and cleaner fish (held by Inger Fyllingen, Norwegian Food Safety Authority) respectively.

We decided to delay this autumn´s planned animal ethics conference with reindeer herding to the eutumn of 2021. Instead we will arrange a digital animal ethics conference this year, with the human/animal health interface as topic - tentatively September 24th.

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.