Newsletter Date Conference Newsletter Conference Newsletter Number One—February, 2008
Welcome to the first edition of the Minding Animals Conference Newsletter. We look forward to regularly updating you on conference progress and important dates to place in your diary.
Website launched Minding Animals The Minding Animals Conference Website was launched on 7 February. Conference Log on to www.mindinganimals.com to find more information about the conference 13-19 July, 2009 Pre-Conference Lecture Series
Mainly for those interested in the Conference from * Sydney University Australia, a series of Pre-Conference Lectures will be 7:00pm, 5 March held in March, July & October, 2008, in March, 2009. Public lecture hosted by the Veterinary Science Inside this issue: for Animal Welfare (VSAW) group at the The series will commence on 4 March with lectures University of Sydney. Website launch 1 presented by Professor Emeritus Marc Bekoff. The first of the series will be held in collaboration * University of Newcastle with the International Whale and Dolphin Noon, 6 March Lecture Series 1 Conservation Society (WDCS), the Animals and Lecture for students and academics hosted by Society (Australia) Study Group, and supported by the School of Psychology at the University of Conference Themes 2 university schools and interest groups, environmental Newcastle. organisations and animal advocacies. The lectures will take place in Adelaide, Sydney and in Newcastle * University of Newcastle 2 Plenary Speakers between 4 and 6 March. The lectures will focus on 6:00pm, 6 March animal behaviour, wildlife protection and Public lecture hosted by various animal Inside Story 2 environmentalism. Advocacies and environmental groups based in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. The venues at the following locations will be posted Conference Topics 3 on the web on 15 February, 2008: The July series will be delivered in Newcastle and Sydney by Professor David Rothenberg. Call for Panel Sessions 3 * Adelaide University 7:30pm, 4 March Details of later lectures in the series will be Participation 4 Public lecture hosted by WDCS and posted shortly. Adelaide University.
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Conference Themes and Objectives
The conference has six major philosophy, has led to the • And how science and themes and objectives: abuse of nonhuman community activism and • To reassess the relationship animals and how this has advocacy can inform the between the animal and since been interpreted and study of nonhuman animals environmental movements evaluated and society in light of climate change • To examine how the lives and other jointly-held of humans and companion threats and concerns and domesticated • To examine how humans nonhuman animals are identify and represent intertwined, and how nonhuman animals in art, science, human and literature, music, science, veterinary medicine utilise and in the media and on these important connections film • How the study of animals • How, throughout history, and society can better the objectification of inform both the scientific nonhuman animals and study of animals and nature in science and community activism and society, religion and advocacy
“A conference to Plenary Speakers consider the The conference is fortunate to The plenary speakers are • Dr Andrew Rowan intersection have some of the most (in alphabetical order): • Professor James Serpell celebrated and gifted animal • Professor Carol Adams • Professor Peter Singer between the scholars and advocates as • P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s • P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s plenary speakers, including animal and Marc Bekoff Michael Soulé some of the founders of the • Professor J Baird Callicott modern animal movement • Professor Paul Waldau • Nobel Laureate Professor environmental JM Coetzee movements”. • Professor Dale Jamieson • Professor Val Plumwood • P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s Tom Regan • Distinguished Professor Workshop presenters will be Bernard Rollin announced soon The Inside Story
The conference will be a The conference venue will the A tentative and working meat-free and smoke-free Newcastle City Precinct, programme will be released event. The conference will also incorporating the Town Hall, on the website after the close strive to be a carbon-neutral Civic Theatre, Newcastle of abstracts. The final event, with a percentage of Playhouse and facilities within conference programme will all registration fees the University of Newcastle contributed to appropriate City Campus be provided to all Conference local environmental charities registrants. to partially offset your carbon usage.
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Possible topics for discussion at the Conference
• Planetary Chaos and the • What’s in a name – feral, • Zoos, Menageries and Future of Human Nonhuman invasive and pest constructions Wildlife Parks Animal Interrelationships • Animal Geographies – space, • Habitat Fragmentation • Nonhuman Animals throughout place and being • Landscape Conservation and History • Profound Interspecies Encoun- Nonhuman Animals • Indigenous Traditions and ters • Wildlife Animal Rescue and Nonhuman Animals • Animals in Art Road Kill • Ecological Imperialism and • Animals in Literature – fiction • Wildlife Threats and Objectification of Nature and poetry Extinctions • Settler Societies and Ecologi- • Animal in Film and Television • Urban Wildlife cal Collapse • Animals and Music • Animals in the Built • Nonhuman Animals in Bud- • Nonhuman Animals, Race and Environment dhism, Jainism and Hinduism Gender Issues • Wildlife Translocation & • Nonhuman Animals in East • Ecofeminism and Nonhuman Predator Reintroductions Asian Religions Animals • Measuring and Sustaining • Nonhuman Animals in Judaism, • Nonhuman Animals as Biodiversity Christianity and Islam Commodities • Nonhuman Animals and Home • Philosophical Foundations and • Vegetarianism, Veganism and Design Interspecies Justice the Human Diet • Companion and Farm Animals • Liberation, Rights and • Bushmeat • Animal Assisted Therapies Welfare • Hunting, Trading and • The Human Nonhuman Animal • Valuing Animals Collecting Nonhuman Animals Bond “The new • Continental Philosophy • Experimentation on Nonhuman • Nonhuman Animals and the • Nonhuman Animals and the Animals Disabled transdisciplinary Law • University Ethics Committees • Non hu man A n ima ls in • Protection, Personhood and • Nonhuman Animals and the Everyday Human Life field of Animal the Law Education System • Companion Animal Welfare, • Funding Animal Advocacy and Studies has • Fur, Fashion and Cosmetics Rights and Protection Campaigns • Nonhuman Animals in Asian • Nonhuman Animals and • Animal Liberation, Community arrived”. Medicine Children Action and the Law • Nonhuman Animals in Sport • Families, Emotions and Grief • Government Inaction and and Entertainment • Animal Welfare and the Animal Exploitation • Animals in War Pound • Community Partnerships for • Boarding Kennels, Catteries Animal Protection • Animals and Violence and Welfare • Protecting the Great Apes • C o m m e r c i a l i s a t i o n , Management and Protection • Down on the Farm – batteries, • Marine Mammal Protection of Wildlife sheds and feedlots and the IWC • Wildlife Tourism • Veterinary Practice and the • CITES and International Law Care of Animals • Wildlife Management and • Nonhuman Animals and Biodiversity Conservation • Disease Crises and Cross- Politics Planning species Infections • What is an Animal? • Human & Wildlife Conflicts – • Nonhuman Animals and • Nonhuman Animals as Social animals out of place Biosecurity Constructs • E n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m , • Animals and Climate Change • Natural Kinds and Species Conservation and Animals • Animals and Disaster Relief
Call for Panel Sessions Convenors and Conference Working Parties Considering all possible topics that At this stage we have several Literature Sub-committee, Spanish can be discussed at the Conference sub-committees working hard on Literature Sub-committee, and a and your own academic interests panels sessions and other aspects Profound Species Encounters and advocacy activities, would you of the conference. They include Committee. If you are interested, like to convene a panel session or an Arts and Film Events Sub- p l e a s e e m a i l C o n f e r e n c e conference working party of your committee, a Music and Animals Co-convenor, Rod Bennison, at: choice, or be involved in an Committee, a Law and Justice [email protected] established committee? Issues Sub-committee, French
Conference Newsletter Number One—February, 2008
The conference will bring together animal theorists and scientists Minding Animals Conference Secretariat from a broad range of academic disciplines, with government PO Box 116 officials from several nations, representatives from non government Salamander Bay NSW 2317 organisations, and representatives from industry, to examine the AUSTRALIA interrelationships between human and nonhuman animals from cultural, historical, geographical, environmental, Phone: +61 2 4984 2554 Facsimile: +61 2 4984 2755 representational, moral, legal and political perspectives. E-mail: [email protected]
We’re on the web! www.mindinganimals.com
How can I participate?
• Firstly, fill in the Expression • Attend the Public Lecture at • And most importantly, of Interest in Attendance form the Newcastle Civic Theatre in register for the conference in on this website, which will the evening on 17 July, 2009, Newcastle where you will be entitle you to receive (with featuring a panel of five of our able to hear our celebrated registrants) the conference plenary speakers plenary speakers, or newsletter • Join in our fantastic social participate in the many • Attend one or more of the programme planned concurrent sessions, Pre-Conference Lecture •Attend the Conference Dinner workshops and panel Series in March, July or on 15 July, 2009, and hear our discussions, or visit our October, 2008, or later in guest speaker for the evening, academic poster displays March, 2009 esteemed Nobel Laureate • Attend the Animals in Film Professor JM Coetzee Festival in July, 2009 •If you represent a community • Come to one of the many group, such as an animal exhibitions planned for July advocacy or environmental and August, 2009, celebrating organisation, or a corporate Animals in Art body, you may wish to • Participate in the Protecting establish a conference display the Animals Seminar Series booth