Rountable discussion "The Human-Environmental Relationships in Critical Period of Crisis" at WCEH4 attended

Today I have taken part (digitally) in the roundtable "The Human-Environmental Relationships in Critical Period of Crisis", convened by Matteo Sartori & Julia Prakofjewa, on the last day of the 4th World Congress in Environmental History, which has been held in Oulu, Finland and online August 19-23rd. My brief introduction was related to my article “Anticipating the societal transformation required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21st century”; I also took part in the discussion. Some 10 people attended physically and online altogether.

Two proposals for WCEH4 (Oulu, Finland, August 2024)

I have just submitted two proposals for the Fourth World Congress of Environmental History, to be held August 19-23rd in Oulu, Finland. 

For the panel "Animal Entanglements: new futures in multi-species pasts", I have proposed the abstract "The study of past Umwelten" based on my article by the same name.

Short abstract: I detail how past Umwelten can be studied by applying Jakob von Uexküll’s Umwelt theory and informed by contemporary science, and outline some basic assumptions in studies of past, current and future Umwelten. I also consider methodological issues related to the study of past Umwelten in particular.

Long abstract:

This presentation is based on a published article, "The study of past Umwelten" (Discipline Filosophische XXXIII(1), 2023, special issue “Jakob Von Uexküll. Biological Theory, Subjectivity And Environment”, ed. Vallori Rasini, pp. 227–247). In the article I detail how past Umwelten can be studied by applying Jakob von Uexküll’s Umwelt theory and informed by contemporary science. I argue that the methodological challenges raised by the lack of present organisms available for real-time observations and whole-body physiological studies can be partly overcome by making qualified assumptions drawn from relevant knowledge and reconstructing likely Umwelt relations. As groundwork for such studies, I outline some basic assumptions in studies of past, current and future Umwelten, consider methodological issues related to the study of past Umwelten in particular, and present a few empirical assumptions that are informative with regard to the study of past Umwelten in different historical periods. I also discuss the relevance of such studies for current conservation work, specifically contemporary discussions about de-extinction, and for economics conceived of as a branch of ecology in the fashion of ecological economics.

For the roundtable "The Human-Environmental Relationships in Critical Period of Crisis", I have proposed the abstract "Anticipating the societal transformation required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21st century" based on my article by the same name.

Short abstract: Two great challenges face humanity in the 21st century: solving an escalating environmental crisis, while also safeguarding and further improving human living conditions. I present an ecosemiotic framework for the study of societal transformations, enveloping socio-ecological developments.

Long abstract:

My contribution will be based on my published article "Anticipating the societal transformation required to solve the environmental crisis in the 21st century" (see https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/sss/article/view/SSS.2021.49.1-2.02). Here I present a ecosemiotic perspective on socio-ecological developments historically and with a view to the future. Two great challenges face humanity in the 21st century: solving an escalating environmental crisis, while also safeguarding and further improving human living conditions. An ecosemiotic framework for the study of societal transformations is presented and political and other normative aspects of what I call transformative semiotics are discussed. This envelops socio-cultural and socio-ecological developments framed in terms of umwelt theory and Deep Ecology. In the long run, developments in human ecology as reflected in our changing relations to non-humans are expressed in the umwelt trajectory of humankind. The question of how the environmental crisis can best be solved is therefore tantamount to the question about what direction the human umwelt trajectory should take in this century. I outline different plausible umwelt scenarios for human ecology in the 21st century, focused on business-as-usual, ecomodernist and Deep Ecology scenarios. In a concluding discussion on technology and sustainability, the scenario development eventually includes a distinction between flexible and inflexible development paths.

Roundtable discussion "Perspectives in biosemiotics" held in Sofia

On Friday September 19th I co-chaired the roundtable discussion "Perspectives on biosemiotics" at the 12th world congress of semiotics (Sofia, Bulgaria, September 16-20), with Timo Maran and Kalevi Kull. Each of us gave brief introductory remarks, which were followed by general discussion. Some 15 people were present. The roundtable followed and summarised papers presented in the sessions "New trends in bio-/zoo-/ecosemiotics" (convened by Timo, Kalevi and Frederik Stjernfelt) and "Biosemiotic ethics" (cf. programme) earlier the same day.

Roundtable discussion "Perspectives in biosemiotics" to be held in Sofia

At the upcoming 12th world congress of semiotics (Sofia, Bulgaria, September 16-20), a roundtable discussion titled "Perspectives in biosemiotics" has been scheduled on Friday September 19th from 6 pm. to 7 pm. The roundtable, which aims to sum up and discuss papers presented in the sessions "New trends in bio-/zoo-/ecosemiotics" and "Biosemiotic ethics", held the same day, will be chaired by Timo Maran, Kalevi Kull and me. Cf. the updated detailed program for the congress.

Participation in roundtable on agency

Today I participated in a roundtable on agency chaired by Kalevi Kull at the ongoing 14th Gathering in biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4). In addition to Alexei Sharov and me, Jesper Hoffmeyer and Don Favareau were also participating. The roundtable lasted for one and a half hour, and included a 15 minute presentation by me.

See also:

To participate in roundtable on agency at GiB14

To participate in roundtable on agency at GiB14

Today I have agreed to participate in a roundtable on agency chaired by Kalevi Kull tomorrow Tuesday July 1st at 11.30-12.50 at the ongoing 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, June 30 - July 4), along with him and Alexei Sharov. I will first of all present findings in the first survey in the biosemiotic community conducted in preparation of the first review article in the biosemiotic glossary project.

Code biology conference: General assembly, roundtable attended

On Friday May 23rd, while at the 1st International Conference in Code Biology (Paris, May 21-23), I attended the first General Assembly of the International Society of Code Biology (ISCB) - which was very brief (approving financial report and formally also the venue for the second conference) - and the concluding roundtable discussion (cf. programme).

See also:

Codes and interpretation paper presented

Afternoon session chaired at 1st code biology conference

Second code biology conference, 2015

Roundtable chaired at Biosemiotics and culture seminar

On Monday 16th of July I also chaired the concluding roundtable of the seminar "Biosemiotics and the study of culture", for 1 hour and 20 minutes, with Nelly Mäekivi. Besides general discussion, Katya Mandoki and Kalevi Kull gave introductory remarks and Timo Maran summed up.

Animals and philosophy roundtable scheduled

The Animals and philosophy roundtable (for which John Hadley is the convenor, and I am the scribe) at the upcoming Minding Animals conference in Utrecht, the Netherlands, has been scheduled for July 4th at 13.00-14.00. In the programme it is referred to as "Study circle discussion". It will take place in a room called Ruppert Rood.

See full programme for the Utrecht conference here.

See also: 

Minding Animals presentations scheduled for July 4th
MA2 scribe instructions received

MA2 scribe instructions received

A few days back I received the instructions for convenors and scribes of lunchtime roundtables at the second international Minding Animals conference, which is to take place in Utrect, the Netherlands, July 4-6. I am the scribe of the Animals and Philosophy roundtable, scheduled for July 4th. According to the memo, scribes will 1) collect a roll of participants/people present, 2) take a short set of minutes detailing decisions made, and 3) "assist the Convenor [in my case John Hadley] where necessary, particularly in coordinating the publication of the refereed academic paper in the ISEE [International Society for Environmental Ethics] Newsletter". Publications from the various roundtables are to appear 2012-2015.

See also:
Minding Animals Norway
Minding Animals International

To be scribe for Animals and philosophy roundtable in Utrecht

I will be the scribe for the "Animals and philosophy" roundtable in Utrecht - one of 14 lunchtime roundtables arranged during the second international Minding Animals conference.

The roundtable is tied to an ongoing/permanent study circle, "Minding Animals and Philosophy", which currently has 44 registered members.

Australian philosopher John Hadley will be the convenor of this roundtable.

Roundtable participants: Futures of zoosemiotics

The roundtable "Futures of Zoosemiotics" - which I am chairing - to take place April 6th as part of the Tartu conference "Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations" (April 4-8), will have the following participants:

* Matthew Chrulew (Macquarie University, Australia)
* Paul Cobley (London Metropolitan University, UK)
* Kalevi Kull (University of Tartu, Estonia)
* Katya Mandoki (Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico)
* Timo Maran (University of Tartu, Estonia)
* Stephen Pain (Denmark)

Zoosemiotics and MAO planning

1. Yesterday the organizing team of the forthcoming Oslo Minding Animals Pre-Conference Lecture event (October 14-15) had its second Skype meeting. In focus was our event webpage, which is about to be launched. We also established an email account, shared.worlds.oslo [] gmail.com. Meanwhile, Martin Lee Mueller has withdrawn from the organizing team.

2. Today I have worked with plans for the Futures of Zoosemiotics roundtable, which will be arranged in Tartu, April 6th, as part of the conference Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations (program here). I have taken part in discussing the time schedule/format, made a preliminary list of roundtable participants to invite (after February 15th), and written a 10-line presentation of key questions of the roundtable.

Program of Tartu zoosemiotics conference

The program of the 4-8 April 2011 conference Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations, to be arranged in Tartu, Estonia, has now been released. You'll find an overview on the conference website - full program in PDF here.

My own roles, apart from being part of the organizing team:
* Giving the presentation "The Umwelt trajectories of wolves, sheep and people", Wednesday April 6th.

14.30 – 16.30

Session: Perspectives in zoosemiotics II
Felice Cimatti, Marco Mazzeo. Uexküll’s heritage: do human animals live in an Umwelt?
Morten Tønnessen. The Umwelt trajectories of wolves, sheep and people.
Katya Mandoki. Performative acts among animals? Considering zoo-pragmatics
Mara Woods. An affective model of perception-action.

* Chair of the roundtable "Futures of Zoosemiotics", Wednesday April 6th at 17.00-18.30.

Further roundtables:
- Thursday April 7th: "Zoo as a semiotic environment", chair: Nils Lindahl Elliot
- Friday April 8th: "Animals and ecocriticism", chair: Wendy Wheeler

Note on the Oslo MIA event

I am mentioning the October 2011 Oslo Minding Animals Pre-lecture Conference event with irregular intervals. As for the roundtable on the shared worlds of people and wolves, I will be its facilitator (and Rhys Evans for the one on people and horses).

Following the coordinating efforts of MIA's convenor Rod Bennison, we have agreed to move the event from the originally planned October 25th, 2011, to Friday October 14th.

Zoosemiotic grant meeting - roundtable plans

Today after the research seminar in Dynamical Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations, we had a grant meeting, the six of us. Next spring's conference naturally topped the agenda. We agreed on what responsibility each one of us will have, and I was asked to lead a roundtable scheduled for April 6th, 2011 (preliminary at 16.30-18.00), with the topic 'Futures of Zoosemiotics'. I will have to come up with names for the roundtable, and prepare a set of questions for discussion.