[BERG] Next BERG meeting Wednesday 16th October

Dear BERGers, Just a reminder there is no BERG meeting this week as Professor Vicky Melfi is giving a seminar on "Human-animal interactions: considering animal welfare in the Anthropocene" (abstract below). The talk will be in 3A94 on Thursday 3rd October @ 4pm. Her presentation is being generously sponsored by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW - see https://www.ufaw.org.uk/). The next BERG meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th October in the Psychology department common room (3A94) at 5:30pm with drinks and nibbles provided. This is despite my previous claim we had no BERG for 3 weeks instead of 2! The most up to date schedule is available on Box for details of talks and for information on dates where BERG is not running (here: https://stir.box.com/s/skboejxqbtg8b52aiadnzi07tv0nrsog). If you have new students who might wish to be on the BERG mailing list, please send them this e-mail. To sign up to the BERG mailing list please use the following link: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg (you can also use this link to unsubscribe). Best wishes, Jade Vicky has just co-edited this book (e-book is free from the Uni library). Hosey, G. (ed.) & Melfi, V. (ed.) 2018 Anthrozoology: human-animal interactions in domesticated and wild animals, Oxford University Press. Human-animal interactions: considering animal welfare in the Anthropocene We are currently living in the Anthropocene: a time defined by the disproportionate impact humans are having on the Earth. Currently human's impact the future of the Earth to a greater extent than any other factor, including biological and/or geological processes. It is no surprise then, that humans impact the lives of animals. As a society it seems we are becoming increasingly aware that the lives of humans are inextricably linked with the lives of animals, directly and indirectly. The discipline of Anthrozoology strives to study human-animal interactions (HAI), relationships and bonds providing us with much needed empirical evidence to understand the impact we as humans have on animals and vice versa. Human impact on animal welfare is diverse, encompassing those animals in human-care but also those where HAI might never occur. The type of impact humans have on animals is often depicted through a negative lens, but this talk will highlight the great capacity which exists for humans to benefit animal welfare. In the shadow of an often depressing monologue of doom and gloom that highlights how humans are responsible for causing animal welfare insults a plenty, it is time and necessary to refocus. There are many ways in which humans are supporting and improving the welfare of animals. Importantly, it is only with an optimistic outlook that we will be able to truly plan and implement change to ensure good animal welfare on a global scale. When living in the Anthropocene the one thing we can sure of, is that human impact is global, so let's ensure that global impact is positive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jade Hooper | Research Assistant and PhD Candidate - Faculty of Social Science | 3T37, RG Bomont Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA | E-mail: jade.hooper@stir.ac.uk<mailto:jade.hooper@stir.ac.uk> | Web:http://www.stir.ac.uk/social-science/ Reports and summaries for the Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland study including an information sheet for children are available here<https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/social-sciences/our-research/research-areas/centre-for-child-wellbeing-and-protection/research/permanently-progressing/>