Two applications for green funding rejected by University of Stavanger

Recently I sent two applications to the University of Stavanger concerning green funding/green transition funds, with one of them involving a public lecture on the future of environmentalism, and the other a field trip in relation to my study of socialized wolves. None of the applications were funded.

Alice Crary introduced at the occasion of the Steffens lecture 2024 at UIS; dinner

Yesterday evening I introduced Alice Crary when she gave the Steffens lecture 2024 at University of Stavanger, "All justice is animal justice". The event was well attended, with some 2-300 people attending in person. The lecture was also recorded and will later be made available online. 

Photo credit: University of Stavanger

After the lecture I joined Alice and some others, including University of Stavanger rector Klaus Mohn, for dinner at Bellies, a top-notch local vegan restaurant.

Langsikt seminar given

Yesterday I held a public lecture or presentation in the Langsikt seminar at the think tank Langsikt, titled "Hvordan få mest mulig velferd for pengene" (loosely translates as: How to get the most welfare for the money spent), drawing on my article "Wasted GDP in the USA". The seminar took place at Mesh Nationaltheatret in Oslo and was attended by 8 people.

Partaking in 4 events in Stavanger and Oslo next week

I have been scheduled to take place in three more events next week, in addition to Dyreetikkonferansen 2024 (Wednesday November 20, Oslo):

Langsikt-seminar: Hvordan få mest mulig velferd for pengene, med Morten Tønnessen (Oslo, Thursday November 21, 2024) - takes place at 12.00-13.30 at Mech, Nationaltheatret

Academic seminar: Ethics in a time of animal crisis (University of Stavanger, Friday November 22, 2024) - takes place at 10.00-13.00 at University of Stavanger  

Steffens-forelesningen 2024, by Alice Crary: "All justice is animal justice" (University of Stavanger, Thursday November 21, 2024) - takes place at University of Stavanger at 18.00-20.00; I have been asked to introduce her

Fact-checking Norway´s Prime minister on Norway´s demographic future

Today I attended a lecture by Norway´s Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre which was held at the University of Stavanger. Early on in the presentation, he made a false claim about Norway´s future demographic development, stating that in 2060, half of Norway´s population would be 65 years or older (see slide below). If that was indeed true, this would have been sensational - half the population will be in retirement age by 2060! But alas, it is a false claim, as is very clear if one reads the government's "Long-term Perspectives on the Norwegian Economy 2024" (Perspektivmeldingen 2024) which was presented earlier in August (particularly p. 8 and 172-174). In fact, less than 1/3 of the population is expected to be 67 years or older in 2060 - which means that twice as many will be younger than 67, compared to those 67 or older. 

I made the Prime minister aware of this during the Q & A session. In response, he said that if what I said was true, he apologized - but that "the challenge remains". Sure, but for any informed discussion about demographic challenges, we must start by getting the facts right.

Public lecture on humans as global species given at Museum of Archaeology

On Tuesday November 5th I gave a public talk at Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger entitled "Mennesket som global art" (The human species as global species), as one of this autumn´s "tirsdagsforedrag" (Tuesday lectures). Some 55 people attended. The event lasted for some 90 minutes including questions/comments.

Photos: Helge Sivertsen

Ad for public lecture on global species

This ad is in Stavanger Aftenblad today, ahead of my public lecture tomorrow at Museum of Archeology.

Lunch lecture at the County Governor of Rogaland

Today I gave a lunch seminar at Fylkesmannen i Rogaland (County Governor of Rogaland, a federal function in the counties), for employees in their Agricultural department and their Environmental department, titled "Rovdyr og natur fra Amazonas til Hjelmeland". Some 30 people attended.

Record turnout at Arne Næss Kunnskapstørst event

Yesterday I delivered the paper "Hadde Arne Næss rett om miljøkrisen?" (Was Arne Næss right about the environmental crisis?) at Måltidets hus under the banner of Kunnskapstørst and Forskningsdagene. Some 40 people attended - from what I am told, this is the biggest turnout to date for a Kunnskapstørst event in the Stavanger region.

More on Næss lecture during Forskningsdagene

The Kunnskapstørst event September 19th is referred to on the intranet of University of Stavanger in an overview over Forskningsdagene (research days) events locally. There´s now also a Facebook event for my public lecture on Arne Næss (see also previous post).

Research days "Kunnskapstørst" talk announced

On Thursday September 19th I will give the talk "Hadde Arne Næss rett om miljøkrisen?" (Was Arne Næss right about the environmental crisis?) at 4 pm. at Måltidets hus (Stavanger). This is an "Kunnskapstørst" event (a popular science lecture series organized by Validé, University of Stavanger and Innovasjonspark Stavanger) that is part of Forskningsdagene 2019 (national research days). The event has been announced on the webpage of Validé. Register here (for free). Also announced by Forskningsdagene, here.

To give two talks at Swedish zoo association conference "The zoos of the future"

I am scheduled to speak twice at the Swedish zoo association conference "Fremtidens dyreparker" (The zoos of the future), which takes place at Bjørneparken (Flå, Norway) September 25-27th 2019. On November 26th I will give the two talks detailed below. I am presented as professor of philosophy (University of Stavanger) and member of Norway´s Council for animal ethics.

— 12.15-13.15 «Dyreparker i fremtiden – om å møte samfunnets holdninger og forventninger»  

— 13.30-13.50 «Gjestemøter»

Third lecture, song at gallery

Yesterday I gave the third and final lecture at Sølvberget galleri in connection with Eli Glader´s video art exhibition "Vitner". The lecture was titled "Vi er alle migranter - Flukt som menneskets situasjon", and attended by 18 people. Ahead of the lecture, "Herfra til ingensteder" by my musical alias The Schopenhauer Experience was played.

Lecture with ethics theme given at Sølvberget galleri

On Wednesday February 28th I gave the first of three lectures at Sølvberget galleri in relation to Eli Glader´s video art exhibition Vitner. This first talk was entitled "Nær eller upartisk? Etikk i mangfoldets tid". About 10 people were present.

Mentioned on NRK Rogaland radio

On February 8th I was mentioned on NRK Rogaland radio in a story about Eli Glader´s video art exhibition Vitner on Sølvberget Galleri, in connection with the three lectures I am giving in relation to the exhibition.

To give lecture on deep ecology in Sandnes April 9th

On Thursday April 9th I will give a lecture on deep ecology ahead of the dance performance (contemporary dance) "Wild Places: Mountain", at Regional Arena for Samtidsdans, Sandnes kulturhus. I will also chair a brief session involving the performers after the show.