On Tuesday this week (October 27th) I was interviewed by the Norwegian TV channel TVL, on why we treat different animals differently (such as eating some but not others). The interview, which was conducted (online) by journalists Vemund Sødal and Hanna Pettersen and lasted 7-8 minutes, aired the same evening, in the programme TVL magasinet (subscription required).
Over the last year I have logged academic readings amounting to 5.357,5 pages. This is somewhat less than in 2024, but somewhat more than what I read in 2023. Altogether I logged texts written by 350 different authors. On the 40 most read authors, 27 were duty-related (related to teaching, supervision, committee work etc (including 12 of the 20 most read authors). Among the most read authors were Martin Bech Holthe, Krystof Kasprzak and Thomas Hylland Eriksen.
As detailed in a University of Stavanger news story (see also a Khrono news story based on the UIS news story), a peer review committee organized by NOKUT has now advised that the UIS should be allowed to establish a candidate of psychology study. More specifically, the committee advices NOKUT to give accreditation to the study. I have earlier been involved in working with the application for establishing this study in a leadership position when I was the Head of department of Department of social studies (2021 to January 2023). The application was first sent, in its initial version, in the Autumn of 2021. I am currently involved in the application and prospective plans as a Professor of philosophy.
In 2023 I have logged 4.546 pages of academic reading with authors identified, distributed among 442 different authors. While not quite back at old heights, this is a significant step up from the lackluster reading of the last few years when I was in leadership positions (2019-2022), and was frustrated by not having time to read. In the good old days early in my academic career, however, I read close to 10.000 pages a year. As a Professor, I would absolutely like to have more time to read than I have had the last year.
These were the most read authors in 2023.
I have just submitted my recommendations concerning the "Klima- og miljøplan" (Climate and environmental plan) for University of Stavanger. See this post in my Norwegian-language blog Utopisk Realisme:
Innspill til klima- og miljøplan for UIS (May 2nd)
Today I travel from Stavanger, Norway to Oxford, UK, with a stop on the way in London, where I have met with Professor Paul Cobley (Middlesex University). Right now I am on the train from London Paddington towards Oxford. In Oxford I plan to attend 6 academic events the next four days, including 3 classes/lectures offered by the Faculty of Philosophy at University of Oxford, and 3 more academic events.
Last Wednesday, October 5th, I delivered a resignation letter in relation to my current position as head of department at Department of social studies at University of Stavanger. My last day in the position will be January 5th, 2023. I am quitting due to too much work-related stress and being over-committed.
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).
Today I have attended a meeting with philosopher colleagues at University of Stavanger and one more person regarding prospective plans for a public event.
Today I have attended the annual meeting - this time held digitally - of Norway´s national academic council for philosophy and history of ideas.
