May in April: seminar on the ethical and political aspects of animal protection
image: Wikipedia
This Thursday, 19 April, the University of Leicester plays host to a one-day conference on Wildlife Conservation, Animal Welfare and Public Policy. The event is a collaboration between our Department of Politics and International Relations and the Centre for Animals and Social Justice (CASJ).
The CASJ is a think-tank which is “committed to a positive impact on animal protection and research excellence. In terms of impact, we want to examine whether national and international policies do justice to ethical imperatives and the significant public interest in the protection of wild animals. Do policy processes need to be reformed so that animal welfare and public attitudes are given the consideration they deserve?” Professor Robert Garner from our Department of Politics was one of the founders.
Among those speaking at the invitation-only seminar on Thursday are:
- Professor Stuart Harrop: Professor of Wildlife Management Law and Director of Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, University of Kent
- Professor Rosaleen Duffy: Professor of International Politics, University of Manchester
- Dr Angus Nurse: School of Social Science at Birmingham City University
- Dr Katy Wilkinson: Research Associate, Newcastle University, and Academic Fellow DEFRA
- Dr Adam Spencer: Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham
Topics discussed will include ‘Animal Welfare in the Tourism Industry: Elephant trekking in Thailand and Botswana’, ‘Science, Ethics, Politics: Bovine Tb in Great Britain’ and the question ‘Has the pace of climate change ousted animal welfare from conservation practices?’
The event will be opened by Dr Brian May, who is of course best-known for his rocktacular work with Queen and, music aside, is also renowned as a leading astronomer. But when he’s not playing ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ or squinting at the Andromeda galaxy, May is also an animal rights advocate and the founder of the non-political campaign group Save Me.
