"Ecological semiotics" now paginated and published as part of 3rd edition of Encyclopedia of Ecology

I have received my author copy of my chapter "Ecological semiotics" which has now, two years after first being published, appeared as part of the 3rd edition of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology.

Previous reference:

— Tønnessen, Morten 2024. Ecological semiotics. Chapter. Encyclopedia of Ecology (3rd edition) (Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences). Elsevier. 9 pp. Planned publication for encyclopedia volumes 2026 . Abstract online October 19th 2024; chapter published November 21st 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5.    

New reference:

— Tønnessen, Morten 2026. Ecological Semiotics. In: Brian D. Fath (ed.) Encyclopedia of Ecology, 3rd Edition (Hardback ISBN: 9780443219641; eBook ISBN: 9780443219658), vol. 4, pp. 243–251. US: Elsevier. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5

#62

Today I have had an article writing day, with some 2900 words added to the manuscript while finishing (and then submitting) my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days this Spring up to 62 including 35,5 article writing days.

This was the most productive writing day this Spring in terms of words written (not coincidentally, today was also my longest workday this Spring - before my summer vacation which starts tomorrow). Altogether I logged 15.864 words written in June, over 18,5 writing days (the most any month this Spring). This Spring I logged a total of 29.942 words written, which is more than any Spring since 2019 except 2020 and 2025.

#56

Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to my book chapter "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a comprehensive description of the complexity and creativity of life", which will appear in the book Creativity – Complexity – Intelligence, Semiotic Perspectives on the Emergence of Meaning (Palgrave Macmillan). In the process I added some 300 words to the manuscript. Moreover, I received good news concerning a Live Better article I am involved with (see link below).

This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 56 including 30 article writing days.

See also:

My fourth Live Better article forthcoming

Book launch held in Stavanger

Yesterday I took part in a book launch at Stavanger antikvariat for the book Philsophising with Rocks. Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene, which includes my chapter "Steffens’ early outlook reconsidered-Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene". The event featured music, and a panel with Benedikt Jager, me, and Terje Torkildsen, chaired by Jørg Arne Jørgensen. 19 people attended altogether.

Book launch event for "Philsophising with Rocks. Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene" in Stavanger June 10th

On Wednesday June 10th at 18 o'clock, I will take part in a book launch event which takes place at Stavanger Antikvariat, downtown Stavanger. The book Philsophising with Rocks. Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene appeared earlier this Spring, and includes my chapter "Steffens’ early outlook reconsidered-Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene".

At the book launch event, Jørg Arne Jørgensen (KåKå) will chair a conversation about the book with Benedikt Jager (editor), me, Morten Tønnessen (contributor) and Terje Torkildsen who has had a central role in highlighting the work of Steffens locally.

If you read this before the event takes place you can also check out the registration link.

At any time, you can check out this link which takes you to a page where you can download the book for free.

Steffens book featured in Karl Alber Verlag Spring catalogue

The book Philosophising with rocks: Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene (which you can buy, or download for free here) which features my chapter "Steffen´s early outlook reconsidered. Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene", is featured in the Spring catalogue of the German publishing house Karl Alber Verlag.

Paperback edition of "Bloomsbury Semiotics" forthcoming in 2026

My chapter "Semiotics in ethology and zoology", published in volume 2 of the 4 volume set Bloomsbury Semiotics, will later this year be republished in a Paperback edition. According to Bloomsbury Academic the Paperback edition will be available from September 7th, 2026 - but it can already be pre-ordered.

Updated reference:

Tønnessen, Morten 2022. Semiotics in ethology and zoology. Book chapter, in Bloomsbury Semiotics (4 volumes, ed. Jamin Pelkey), volume 2, Semiotics in the Natural and Technical Sciences (ed. Jamin Pelkey and Stéphanie Walsh Matthews), pp. 75–91. Bloomsbury Academic. Hardback edition 2022 (9781350139329); paperback edition 2026 (ISBN 9781350641853).

Book chapter "Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene" published

The book Philosophising with Rocks. Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene, edited by Benedikt Jager and Marius Timmann Mjaaland, has now been published by Karl Alber Verlag (with contributions in English and German). The book includes my chapter "Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene". This is the second chapter I have written on the work of Steffens, but the first to be published (the first was approved a long time ago but remains to appear in print).

Reference:

Tønnessen, Morten 2026. Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene. Pp. 83–102 in Andreas Benedikt Jager & Marius Timmann Mjaaland (eds.), Philosophizing with Rocks: Henrik Steffens and the Anthropocene. Karl Alber Verlag.

The book is available for sale and as Open Access. See also the chapter on my ResearchGate profile.

5,000 reads of chapter "Introduction: The semiotics of animal representations" on ResearchGate

According to ResearchGate our chapter "Introduction: The semiotics of animal representations" (co-written with Kadri Tüür) has reached 5,000 reads on their platform.  Read the chapter here.

#9

Today I have had an article writing day, with some 700 words written in the process of writing most of a chapter proposal, work-titled "Ecosemiotic questions: Towards a general description of the creativity of life". This brings the number of writing days so far this Spring up to 9, including 6 article writing days.

#49

Today I have had an article writing day, with some 600 words added to the environmental semiotics chapter I am co-writing with Jonathan Beever. This was writing day #49 this Autumn (starting July 1st), with a total of 17,5 of the writing days devoted to article writing to date. 

To co-write Handbook of environmental philosophy chapter on environmental semiotics

I have agreed to co-write a chapter for Springer´s forthcoming Handbook of Environmental Philosophy along with Jonathan Beever. 

Preliminary reference:

 — in process, with Jonathan Beever: Environmental semiotics. In: Nathan Kowalsky and Richard Kover (eds.), Handbook of Environmental Philosophy (Handbooks in Philosophy), Section II: Main Theoretical Currents. Springer Nature.

#29

Today I have had half an article writing day, partly devoted to work on the revision of the book chapter manuscript "Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene", with some 100 words added to the manuscript in the process. I also accepted to contribute with two entries in a prospective special issue (journal to be agreed) titled "CONTRADICTionary: An Almanac of Resistance", which will be organised around the ca. 200 words the Trump administration is attempting to ban from science.  

So far this Spring I have had 29 writing days, including 5 article writing days.

#27,5

Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to work on the revision of the book chapter manuscript "Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene", following peer-review, adding some 200 words to the manuscript in the process. So far this Spring I have had 27,5 writing days, including 4,5 article writing days.

"Mars and the Earthlings" book webpage launched; publication date December 11th

Springer Nature has now launched a website for the forthcoming book Mars and the Earthlings: A Realistic View on Mars Exploration and Settlement, which I am one of ca. 60 authors of. The book will appear in the book series Space and Society. Planned publication date is said to be December 11th. The book will be included in Springer´s e-book package for Physics and astronomy.

Book description:

In an era of public Mars fascination, this book offers an objective presentation of the challenges of crewed Mars missions and discusses scenarios of Mars settlements under scientific, technical, social, economic , ethical and political aspects. With the aim to make the reader comprehend what is plausible and what is at stake, the book tries to clarify misconceptions and half-truths spreading rapidly in the public. The authors argue that approximations and misinformation should be countered for two main reasons. First, to avoid missing out on the benefits that Mars exploration may bring, including major scientific discoveries and an inspiring, federative human endeavor. Second, to remediate dangerous delusions – such as the idea that humanity could be transferred there should the Earth become inhabitable in the near term. In preparation for this book a group of European, world-renowned scientists from fields as diverse as astronomy, planetology, geology, biology, philosophy, or economics, as well as astronauts and science-fiction writers, was gathered to discuss Mars missions ranging from near-term robotic missions, all the way to large-scale settlements and even the feasibility of terraforming. For each, they draw arguments from their domains of expertise to discuss what is feasible and what is desirable. The result provides researchers with an objective review of the field, policy makers with a reference to make informed decisions, and the general public with a tool to form educated opinions.

"Mars and the Earthlings" book near completion; to be submitted to publisher; co-author of three chapters

The manuscript for the book Mars and the Earthlings. A realistic view on Mars exploration and settlement is approaching completion and will be submitted to Springer this week. I will be credited as a co-author of three chapters, cf. below. Altogether 61 experts have co-authored the book.

Updated preliminary reference:

— forthcoming, 2024. Mars and the Earthlings. A realistic view on Mars exploration and settlement (eds. C. Verseux, M. Gargaud, K. Lehto & M. Viso). Co-author of chapter 4 (“Mars Historical and ethical context: Past, present and imagination”), chapter 8 (“Toward permanent settlements on Mars (from 1000 to 100 000 people)”), chapter 9 (“Mars as a planet B?”). Springer. Planned publication 2024.

Second Steffens chapter invited and planned for

I have agreed to contribute with a chapter work-titled "Steffens´ early outlook reconsidered: Nature conceptions of the industrial-age Anthropocene" for a book on the work of Henrik Steffens which is to be edited by Andreas Benedikt Jager and Marius Mjaaland and published by Karl Alber Verlag in 2025.

My first chapter on Steffens, titled "Steffens’ ideas about organic meteorology: From the Totalorganismus to planetary health?", written for the book Henrik Steffens in Context of the Sciences, Humanities, Philosophy, and Arts around 1800 (edited by Anna Lena Sandberg & Jesper Lundsfryd Rasmussen) was finished quite a while ago, but has not yet appeared in print.

Publication date announced for book "Elemental-embodied thinking for a new era"

The book Elemental-Embodied Thinking for a New Era, edited by Lenart Skof, Sashinungla, and Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir, where I contribute with the chapter "A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis", now has a new planned publication date, May 30th, according to Springer´s website for the book.

#1; progress plan for book project "Captured: CCS and the fight for the soul of the environmental movement"

Today I have had the first writing day this Spring, mostly devoted to making a writing plan for the entire Spring (see previous post). I have also made a draft progress plan for my book project Captured: CCS and the fight for the soul of the environmental movement, estimating some 75 writing days resulting in a finished manuscript in June 2025. This would realistically leave space for only 10 article/chapter writing days in Autumn 2024 as well as in Spring 2025. 

Prioritized writing plan for Spring 2024, including writing days devoted to book writing

Today I have finished my Prioritized writing plan for Spring 2024, with plans for 47,5 writing days. This is somewhat less than last year (Spring 2023). I have tried to account for likely or possible travels in late Spring, and plan to devote an estimated 8 writing days for the book format (specifically, devoted to work with my book project Captured: CCS and the fight for the soul of the environmental movement). This will mean that I have less time for article and chapter writing. If I am to finish that project over the course of the next one and a half year, I will have to devote even more of my writing time to this purpuse in the Autumn and next Spring.