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.

Abstracts reviewed for NASS XIV conference

I have recently peer-reviewed 17 abstracts as a member of the scientific committee of The 14th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies along with the 15th Annual Lotman Days (NASS XIV), with the theme “Creativity – Complexity – Intelligence“, which is to be held in Tallinn, Estonia, June 11–13.

Moreover, even more recently, I have taken part in assessing candidates for receiving NASS graduate student grants.

Two abstracts reviewed for world congress in semiotics

I have reviewed two abstracts submitted to the organizers of the 16th world congress of semiotics, to be held in Warsaw, Poland, in early September, in my capacity as a member of the congress´ scientific committee.

6 abstracts reviewed for IACS5

This week I have helped review 6 abstract submitted to the organizers of the Fifth Conference of the International Association for Cognitive Semiotics (IACS-5), which is to be held August 15-17, 2024, in Lund, Sweden,

Appointed member of scientific committee of "Traces of extinction" conference

I have agreed to be a member of the Scientific Committee of the conference "Traces of Extinction: Species Loss, Solastalgia, and Semiotics of Recovery", which is to be held at University of Tartu, Estonia, June 5–7 2024.

Abstracts are due December 1st - see the call for papers.

Havana conference om comparative welfare and people`s experience of the welfare system cancelled

The conference “Comparative Welfare: Cuban and Nordic Welfare: People`s experience of the welfare system”, which was to be held in Havana, Cuba, November 27th to December 1st, has been cancelled by the University of Havana. I was invited to speak as a keynote speaker.

Plenary “If looks could kill" given at IAVS13 in Bogotá; oddly undermined by parallel session

Today I gave my plenary speech “If looks could kill: The human ecology of visible and overlooked worlds in the perspective of Umwelt phenomenology” at the 13th conference of the International Association for Visual Semiotics (IAVS), held at Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano in Bogotá, Colombia. Only 10-16 people attended (beginning-end). Oddly, the organizers, which included the IAVS, had scheduled a session in parallel with my plenary, which defies the notion and purpose of a plenary, which is defined as "a meeting to be attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups."

Member of the Scientific committee of the 16th World Congress of Semiotics

I have agreed to be a member of the Scientific committee of the 16th World Congress of Semiotics, which will have the theme “Signs and Realities” and be held in Warsaw, Poland September 2-6th 2024.

NASS XIII conference booklet now available online

The 13th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS XIII) starts next week. The conference booklet, with program, abstracts and bios, is now available here.

NASS board meeting held, chaired

Today I have chaired a meeting in the board of Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS), in Zoom. Among other things we discussed issues related to the organizing of NASS XIII, which will take place in Helsinki in early June.

Abstract reviews for NASS XIII

I have recently reviewed around 20 abstracts as a member of the scientific committee for The 13th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, Feeling – Skill – Knowledge (Helsinki, Finland, 7–9 June 2023) - see conference webpage for more info.

Dyreetikkonferansen 2022 held; panel chaired; recordings available online

Wednesday this week I attended Dyreetikkonferansen 2022 in Oslo (at Litteraturhuset), which had the theme "Noen dyr er likere enn andre. Hvorfor behandler vi dyr forskjellig?". I have been in the organizing committee. I also chaired the panel discussion, which lasted for 2 hours. Some 100 people attended physically while at least 70 attended online. 

The event was streamed. The recordings are available at YouTube.

The Norwegian Animal Ethics conference 2022 to take place in Oslo November 16th; links

Dyreetikkonferansen 2022, The annual Norwegian Animal Ethics conference, will take place November 16th in Oslo, with the theme "Noen dyr er likere enn andre. Hvorfor behandler vi dyr forskjellig?" (Some animals are more equal than others. Why do we treat animals differently?). I will be chairing the panel discussion, and take part in the organizing committee.

More info: 

Conference homepage

Facebook event page

2 job interviews and a scientific committee meeting

Today I have chaired 2 job interviews and attended a meeting of the scientific committee (abstract evaluation committee) for the 22nd gathering in biosemiotics. I have taken part in evaluating about 30 abstracts.

Norwegian animal ethics conference 2021 held in Alta

On November 11th I was in Alta, attending Dyreetikkonferansen 2021, which had the theme "Dyrevelferd i reindriften: Utfordringer og løsninger" (Animal welfare in reindeer husbandry: Challenges and solutions). The conference was held at Scandic hotel Alta, and attended by some 30 people physically. It was also followed by some 100 people nationally via live streaming.

This year I have only been involved on par with the other members of Norway´s Council for animal ethics, which organizes the Norwegian animal ethics conference.

The conference has been mentioned in the Saami newspapers Avvir and Sagat.

Keynote speech chaired at NASS XII; attendance

Today, at the 12th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS XII), I chaired Irene Mittelberg´s keynote speech, "Sensing Meaning: Felt Qualities of Perceptual Experience in Coverbial Gestures". This is the third and last day of the conference. Some 50 people have been registered for the conference, of which ca. 30 attending physically, the rest online. With some further virtual viewership including a number of students in Lithuania and Italy, up to 100 people have followed the conference.

Peer reviews done for NASS XII

I have done peer-reviews of individual abstracts as a member of the scientific committee for NASS XII - most recently one today.

Tartu Semiotics Summer School 2021 cancelled

Tartu Semiotics Summer School 2021, with the theme "Semiotic horizons: time, memory, and future(s)", was planned for August 13-16th, but I have now been informed by the organizers that the event is cancelled, for covid-related reasons. I was one of the invited speakers.

Appointed as member of the scientific committee of the 15th world congress of semiotics

I have been asked, and agreed, to be appointed as a member of the scientific committee for the 15th world congress of semiotics, which is to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece on August 30th - September 3rd 2022 with the theme "Semiotics in the lifeworld". The congress is held in association with the International Association for Semiotic Studies (IASS). See list of world congresses here.

NASS XII abstract review

Today I have done abstract review for NASS XII, as part of the conference´s scientific committee.