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 2025 some of the activities are: 
- Research Sympoisum, April 28, paper presentations and discussions.
- Research Symposium, October /, paper presentations by Andreas Losch and Tom Middleton, and PhD-students. 
- Participation workshop. Research Project funded by Templeton: "Nature spiritualities among the spiritual but not religious". Megan Loumagne Ulishney (Boston College, USA) and other members of Nature, Aesthetics and Ethics, November 21.
- Participation at American Academy of Religion, Boston, November 22-25. 

Members and affiliated scholars:

Knut-Willy Sæther, (Leader of Nature, aesthetics and ethics), VUC, Norway
Wessel Bentley, University of South Africa
Fredrique Brossard Børhaug, VID Specialized University, Norway
Giovanna Colombetti, University of Exeter, UK
Deborah M. Davies, University of Cambridge, UK
Edward DeLaquil, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland 
Gunvor Marie Dyrdal, NTNU, Norway
Stian Sørlie Eriksen, VID Specialized University, Norway
Sindre Johan Cottis Hoff, NTNU, Norway
Mark Graves, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA
Philippe Gagnon, Université Catholique de Lille, France
Raul Grau-Ruiz, VUC, Norway
Randi Hagerup, Friluftsrådet
Thomas John Hastings, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, USA
Noreen Herzfeld, St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, Collegeville, USA
Lee Hogarth, University of Exeter, UK
Marie Marti Høgset, Diocese of Møre, 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, University of Stavanger, Norway
Helga Synnevåg Løvoll, VUC, Norway
Ralph Meier, VUC, Norway
Tim Middleton, University of Oxford, UK
Michael Agerbo Mørch, Fjellhaug Intl. University College, Denmark
Bernice Serfontein, University of Pretoria, South Africa 
Michael Nausner, Stockholm School of Theology, Sweden
Christopher Southgate, University of Exeter, UK
Megan Loumagne Ulishney, Boston College, USA
Danie Veldsman, Univeristy of Pretoria, South Africa
Dag Erik Wold, VUC, Norway