Interest signalled for being Ombudsmann for scientific integrity; deemed qualified but not chosen

Some time back, I expressed interest in being the University of Stavanger´s new Ombudsman for scientific integrity (in Norwegian: Vitenskapsombud), after professor Geir Skeie. Last week I was in for an interview. Although I was considered qualified, I was not chosen for the function.

Annual UIS research ethics seminar chaired

Today I have chaired the annual seminar in research ethics of University of Stavanger, arranged by the UIS research unit in collaboration with the faculties-initiative Forum for forskning. The topics were publication ethics (lecture by COPE council member Frits Rosendaal) and handling of sensitive personal data. Some 90 people attended, at Måltidets hus.

Three planning meetings

Today I have attended a planning meeting concerning a research ethics seminar, another planning meeting on the faculty´s research report, and a planning meeting on the Norwegian Animal Ethics Conference (Dyreetikkonferansen) 2019.

Fifth MEE140 lecture

Today I have given the fifth and last lecture in philosophy of science in the master course "Philosophy of science and research methods". The topic was mainly ethical issues facing researchers.

Input on ethical guidelines for animal experiments

Today I have contributed to the consultation response (høringsuttalelse) of Norway´s Council for animal ethics in relation to ethical guidelines for animal experiments developed by Norway´s National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT).

Supervisor seminar attended

Today I have attended the annual supervisor seminar at Department of social studies, for supervisors in bachelor theses (child welfare and social work). I also presented some of the material, including on research ethics and gathering of research data.

Research status report

Yesterday I gave a brief status report to the Norwegian Personvernombudet for forskning in relation to field work in "Animals in changing environments" (EMP151). Research is still ongoing.

NSD response

Today I have received response to my brief status report from NSD - Norwegian Centre for Research Data in relation to our field work involving 13 interviews last year, acknowledging the prolongation of the subproject which I reported.

See also:

NSD status report on research data

Wolf Symposium linking to interview on Swedish Radio

The webpage of the Wolf Symposium now links to Sara Sällströms report for Swedish public radio "När vilda djur blir försöksdjur" [When wild animals become laboratory animals], which features interviews with me, Katarina Cvek and Olof Liberg.

Minister of research and education asked about abuse, neglect, control of research

Today I attended a talk my Norway´s minister of research and education, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, at University of Stavanger, and asked him a question about the government´s abuse (minister of immigration and integration Sylvi Listhaug), neglect (minister of finance Siv Jensen) and attempted control (minister of fisheries Per Sandberg) of research. Among other things, the minister responded that Sandberg felt misunderstood, and that it is more important that Jensen accepts the government´s climate policies than what she believes is actually happening with the climate. He also reiterated that research must be independent and free.

Ethics of wolf management and research paper presented at the Wolf Symposium

Yesterday, at Vargsymposiet [The wolf symposium], I presented my paper "Merket for livet – Etiske spørsmål knyttet til forvaltning av og forskning på ulv" [Marked for life – Ethical questions concerning management of and research on wolves]. This year there has been around 150 registered participants.

This was an invited presentation, 45 minutes long.

Siri Kalvig to head UiS Research Network in Sustainable Energy

Siri Kalvig has been employed as Associate professor at University of Stavanger and appointed  leader of the newly established Research Network in Sustainable Energy, according to a UiS news story. I take this as a signal that this network may get a quite high profile. Siri Kalvig is very much qualified for the job, in terms of science, business contacts, and media abilities.

Preliminary program for The Wolf Symposium distributed; two scheduled events March 8th

Today a preliminary program for The Wolf Symposium 2016, to be held in Vålådalen, Sweden, has been distributed by email. Exact times for program posts are not included, but have been communicated to those on the program.

My talk "Marked for life – Ethical questions concerning management of and research on wolves" (to be held in Norwegian, with Powerpoint in English) is scheduled for the afternoon of March 8th, probably at 14.15-15.00.

The panel discussion on ethics in research and management is preliminarily scheduled for March 8th at 16.15-17.00 or so. In addition to me and Katarina Cvek, Maria Hörnell Willebrand and the chair Sverre Sjölander (see previous post linked to below), it is now communicated that it will feature Olof Liberg (representing SKANDULV and Grimsö Wildlife Research Station).

See also:

Discussion on ethics in research and management scheduled for The wolf symposium (Sweden, March 2016)

Discussion on ethics in research and management scheduled for The wolf symposium (Sweden, March 2016)

As a follow-up to my talk "Merket for livet – Etiske spørsmål knyttet til forvaltning av og forskning på ulv" [Marked for life – Ethical questions concerning management of and research on wolves] at Vargsymposiet [The wolf symposium] 2016 in Vålådalen, Sweden, a discussion session has been scheduled. The discussion session is entitled "Etik i forskning och forvaltning" [Ethics in research and management], and will feature me, Katarina Cvek (Djurförsöksetiska nämnden [Committee for ethics of animal experiments]), Maria Hörnell Willebrand (Naturvårdsverket [Swedish Environmental Protection Agency]) and a wildlife researcher.

Supervisor seminar chaired; appointed member of research ethics reference group

Today I chaired a supervisor seminar (2 hours) at University of Stavanger´s Department of Social Studies, in relation to the bachelor thesis in child welfare and social work respectively. I was appointed member of a 3-person reference group in research ethics. Some 20 faculty attended the seminar.

Pilot study rescheduled

The pilot study (see previous posts) which is to be conducted in relation to field work in the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis", specifically as part of the case study “Representations (both Problematic and Romanticizing) of Large Mammals, especially Wolves”, has been rescheduled from January 9th to February 10th. The pilot study will take place at University of Agder.

The reason for the delay is first of all that we have not received a reply from Personvernombudet for forskning [the privacy ombudsman for research] in time - though we now know a reply letter is on its way. We applied some 30 days ago.

Former prorector criticises UiS research profile, cites my chronicle

In a chronicle published in the regional daily newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad today, entitled "Universitet og oljemarked" [University and oil market], Øyvind Foss cites my November 5th chronicle "10 spørsmål om fremtidens UiS". Foss, who is sympathetic with my views, is former protector at the University College of Stavanger (now the University of Stavanger). Among other things he asks whether some kinds of petroleum research should be phased out soon, and suggests that renewable energy might be a top priority by 2020/2025.

Interviewed by Stavanger Aftenblad on university strategy

Today I have been interviewed by the Norwegian regional daily newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, in relation to a petition calling for restructuring (from a fossil fuel agenda) at University of Stavanger. Both the petition and the news story will appear in print tomorrow.

Interviewed by Stavanger Aftenblad on university strategy

Today I have been interviewed by the Norwegian regional daily newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, in relation to a petition calling for restructuring (from a fossil fuel agenda) at University of Stavanger. Both the petition and the news story will appear in print tomorrow.

Interviewed by Stavanger Aftenblad on university strategy

Today I have been interviewed by the Norwegian regional daily newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, in relation to a petition calling for restructuring (from a fossil fuel agenda) at University of Stavanger. Both the petition and the news story will appear in print tomorrow.