Nature, aesthetics and ethics

Nature, aesthetics and ethics is an international research group based at Volda University College (VUC). The group contributes with interdisciplinary research related to the following topics: Views of nature, aesthetics, wellbeing, and ethical perspectives on human’s encounter with nature.

The scholars have been doing research together in different projects since 2016. Among the activities are applications to The Research Council of Norway, Templeton Foundation, scientific publications, and symposiums/conferences. PhD-students and MA-students are also members of the group.

The interdisciplinary perspective is significant for the group. The scholars involved represent different fields, such as philosophy, psychology, theology, spirituality, religion, friluftsliv / outdoor education.

In 2024 some of the activities are: 

- Publication of "Views of Nature and Dualism". Palgrave Macmillan, January 2024.

- Research symposium, May 24: Topic: How does local nature promote wellbeing?

- Research symposium, October 21. Topic: Presentation of Templeton Project "Nature spiritualities among the spiritual but not religious". Megan Loumagne Ulishney (Boston College, USA). Presentation and discussion together with Sigurd Bergmann (Former NTNU, Trondheim, now Lund University) on his research related to "Nature, aesthetics and ethics".

- Seminar with paper presentations, November/December. Topic: TBA.

Members and affiliated scholars:

Knut-Willy Sæther, (Leader of Nature, aesthetics and ethics), VUC, Norway
Fredrique Brossard Børhaug, VID Specialized University, Norway
Giovanna Colombetti, University of Exeter, UK
Gunvor Marie Dyrdal, NTNU, Norway
Mark Graves, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA
Philippe Gagnon, Université Catholique de Lille, France
Thomas John Hastings, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, USA
Lee Hogarth, University of Exeter, UK
Marie Marti Høgset, VUC, Norway
Petra Kaisinger, VUC, Norway
Aleksander Krogevoll, VUC, Norway
Anne Kull, University of Tartu, Estonia
Lina Langby, Uppsala University, Sweden
Jonas Gamborg Lillebø, VUC, Norway
Ingrid Malm Lindberg, Uppsala University, Sweden
Andreas Losch, University of Zürich, Switzerland
Ingrid Løland, VID Specialized University, Norway
Helga Synnevåg Løvoll, VUC, Norway
Ralph Meier, VUC, Norway
Raul Grau-Ruiz, VUC, Norway
Christopher Southgate, University of Exeter, UK
Megan Loumagne Ulishney, Boston College, USA
Dag Erik Wold, VUC, Norway