Solveig Aasen

Solveig Aasen is a permanent academic researcher at the Department of Philosophy, History of Ideas and Art, and Classical Languages within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Oslo. She has held a permanent position since 2017 after joining UiO in 2015, following her PhD from University College London in 2014. Her research integrates philosophical inquiry with interdisciplinary approaches from psychology, neuroscience, and performing arts.

Her research focuses on the philosophy of consciousness and aesthetics, specifically examining sensory engagement through artistic practices like dance and imaging. Key areas include olfactory experiences, tactile perception, intentionality in sensory experience, and the relationship between music and dance. She treats artistic practices as essential phenomena for developing comprehensive theories of perception, bridging analytic philosophy with empirical research in cognitive science.

Aasen leads the Research Council of Norway-funded 'Young Research Talents' project Perceiving Representations and co-leads a UiO:Life Science convergence environment studying consciousness through psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. Her publications demonstrate consistent contributions to understanding crossmodal perception, representation, and sensory phenomenology.

• Somaesthetic Research Prize (American Society for Aesthetics)
• Visiting researcher at New York University
• Researcher at Centre for Philosophical Psychology (University of Antwerp)
• Former associate professor at CSMN and University of Agder

Aasen directs significant research initiatives while contributing to academic instruction through courses like EXPHIL03 and FILE4400. Her work exemplifies how philosophical analysis of sensory experience can inform and be informed by empirical research across disciplines, particularly in understanding how humans perceive representational objects and engage in shared social experiences through artistic practices.