"Farewell, civilization" - opinion peace in Khrono

Yesterday my letter to the editor "Farvel, sivilisasjon" (Farewell, civilization) was published in Khrono. The text draws on Peter Wessel Zapffe´s "Farvel, Norge" (1958) and relates to a debate about academic studies started by politician and member of parliament Peter C. Frølich.

The two most-read stories on Khrono

The news story featuring an interview with me on the University of Stavanger´s suggested new guidelines for work planning is still the most-read story on Khrono. Earlier today, my (related) letter to the editor "Høyskolevisjonen for UIS" entered the top 5 list; now it has climbed to no. 2., so that I´m currently involved in the two most-read stories on Khrono.

See also:

Most-read story on Khrono

Follow-up news story in Khrono

Chronicle in Stavanger Aftenblad: "Vekst i velferdens og miljøkrisens tid"

Today a chronicle written by me was published in the regional daily Stavanger Aftenblad, titled "Vekst i velferdens og miljøkrisens tid" (Growth in the time of welfare and environmental crisis).

Response from NOAH to my chronicle on Tiger King

Today Siri Martinsen, leader of the animal protection NGO "NOAH - for dyrs rettigheter", has a letter to the editor published in the Norwegian daily Vårt Land, titled "Illusjonen om dyrehagene", in response to my chronicle ""Tiger King" Joe Exotic: En ekte dyrevenn?".

First "new" Forum for forskning chaired

Today I chaired the first Forum for forskning at University of Stavanger in the new forum series. This forum´s topic was open access publication. There was also a debate on the Dora declaration. Some 40 people attended.

Some 26.000 words written on "Utslippsfrie nye verden?" manuscript

In 2018, I wrote some 26.430 words on my book manuscript Utslippsfrie nye verden? Karbonfangst i lys av norsk økofilosofi (Emission-free new world? Carbon capture and storage in light of Norwegian ecophilosophy). In comparison, I wrote 19.459 words on this manuscript in 2016 (autumn), and 5.142 words in 2017 (when I took a break with this manuscript to work on the collective popular science monograph Ulvetider, with Lars Lenth and Petter Bøckman, which was published autumn 2017). Total word count is now 58.089. Judging by length alone, I should be able to finish the manuscript in 2019.

UiS.no dissemination article: "Researchers: facts alone are not enough in the debate about wolves"

The dissemination article "Researchers: facts alone are not enough in the debate about wolves" by Benedicte Pentz was published on the English version webpage of University of Stavanger on December 7th. This is another version of the dissemination article published in English on phys.org and in Norwegian on Uis.no and forskning.no.

Rector candidates debating in UiS debate forum

The electoral campaigns ahead of the election of rector and pro-rector for University of Stavanger, starting October 27th, are reflected in several posts these days in the UiS debate forum, UiS Debatt, including from rector candidates Marit Boyesen and Einar Marnburg. 

National daily Aftenposten cites chronicle on petroleum research

In a news article published by the national daily Aftenposten January 17th, "Derfor bruker de lang tid på å finne ny Statoilsjef" [This is why they take so long finding a new Statoil boss], I am cited, in a caption, as stating that the tax refund arrangements for oil drilling makes research collaborations between universities and private companies parodic.

Chronicle on fish happiness linked to under NGO Aftenposten chronicle

On October 28th Siri Martinsen, head of the Norwegian NGO "NOAH - for animal rights" had a chronicle published in Aftenposten entitled "Ingen dyr skal måtte leve i bur" [No animal should have to live in cages]. One of the three links provided after the chronicle text online (under Les også, Read also) is to a chronicle written by Tore Kristiansen and me, "Fiskelykke?" [Luck in fishing/fish happiness?], here presented as "Levende fisk fårstrupe og mage skåret opp uten at de er bedøvet" ["Live fish gets throat and stomach cut open without being sedated".

UiS petition calling for climate-friendly research profile posted on UiS debate pages

The petition for a more climate-friendly research profile at University of Stavanger (UiS) was Tuesday this week, December 2nd, published on the debate pages of UiS - see here. It has previously been published on the debate pages of the regional daily newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad.

See also:
23 UiS researchers sign petition calling for climate profile

Debate with UiS rector on regional radio

Today I debated the research profile of University of Stavanger in light of climate change (petroleum research vs. research on renewable energy) with rector Marit Boyesen on NRK Rogaland radio. The discussion, which lasted some 6 minutes, centered on a petition which I helped initiate last week. Podcast is available.

See also:

23 UiS researchers sign petition calling for climate profile

Siri Kalvig replies to Hans Borge, my chronicle linked to

Siri Kalvig replies to Head of Department Hans Borge in a letter to the editor in the regional daily Stavanger Aftenblad entitled "Bomskudd fra Borge" [loosely: Borge misses the point]. My chronicle of November 6th is linked to at the bottom.

Rector's reply to chronicle on petroleum research posted on UiS debate pages

Rector Marit Boyesen's reply to my chronicle "Olje og omstilling: 10 spørsmål om fremtidens UiS" [Oils and restructuring: 10 questions about the future University of Stavanger], entitled "Olje, omstilling og fremtidens UiS" [Oil, restructuring and the future University of Stavanger] has now been posted on the debate pages of University of Stavanger (see debate thread).

120 people attending critical UiS debate on petroleum research and climate change

120 people attended the open meeting held at University of Stavanger by the university library on Thursday November 6th. Of the four panelists, only Head of department Hans Borge, who does not think that there is any anthropogenic climate change, defended the status quo. The three other panelists, and the majority of the audience, appeared to favour changes in research profile and/or ethical consideration of collaboration with the petroleum industry.

A video of the panel debate is available on YouTube. 

UiS rector replies to chronicle on ethics of petroleum research

In a chronicle entitled "Oljå, omstilling og fremtidens UiS" [The oil, restructuring and the future University of Stavanger], Marit Boyesen, rector of the University of Stavanger, today replied in the Norwegian regional daily Stavanger Aftenblad to my chronicle yesterday in the same newspaper, "10 spørsmål om fremtidens UiS" [10 questions about the future University of Stavanger].

Excerpt:

Chronicle on ethics of petroleum research, university strategy published in Stavanger Aftenblad

Today my chronicle "10 spørsmål om fremtidens UiS" [10 questions about the future University of Stavanger] was published in print in the Norwegian regional daily Stavanger Aftenblad. On the front page and the main debate page, the headline was "Filosofens 10 spørsmål om fremtidens UiS" [The philosopher´s 10 questions about the future University of Stavanger].

See also:

Letter to the editor on oil and restructuring published on UiS debate pages

Human-animal relations debate in Oslo

On October 29th a debate is arranged on Kulturhistorisk museum [Museum of cultural history], Oslo, entitled "Hvem er villest i landet her?" [Who is the wildest one in the country here?], named after our 2013 book. My fellow editor Ragnhild Sollund is one of the participants.

Referred to in commentary by Green Youth/Green Party representative Lage Nøst

On June 28 I was mentioned in a letter to the editor/commentary written by Lage Nøst, secretary of the Green Party of Stavanger and member of the leadership (arbeidsutvalg) of Green Youth Norway, and published in the Norwegian regional daily Rogalands avis. The commentary is entitled "Den som tier samtykker" [The one who remains silent agrees], and addresses the lack of debate on the research ethics of petroleum research among employees and students at University of Stavanger. He refers to my attempt to challenge students at UiS to discuss this.

See also NENT's PDF document on media coverage of the debate on the research ethics of petroleum research, pages 52-53.

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.