Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
@zoophilosophy.bsky.social
Scientist & Philosopher | Former zookeeper, now Lecturer at University of Southampton, specialising in animal welfare, sentience, and ethics
Pinned
Animal Quality-Adjusted Life Year -AQALY
In this paper, we define a method for computing animal welfare scores that can be used in cost-benefit analyses. Our approach takes into account both the qualit
papers.ssrn.com
Very excited about my new preprint with economists Romain Espinosa and Nicolas Treich, in which we develop an AQALY measure for quantifying animal welfare for the purposes of cost-benefit and policy analyses
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Very happy to see the UK government making a commitment to phasing out animal testing
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Animal testing to be phased out faster as UK unveils roadmap for alternative methods
New plan backs researchers to seize on new and developing opportunities to phase out animal tests with specific commitments for the coming years.
www.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Very happy to see the UK government making a commitment to phasing out animal testing
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
In Osaka meeting the first fish to have been shown to possess self-awareness in mirror experiments!
October 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
In Osaka meeting the first fish to have been shown to possess self-awareness in mirror experiments!
Very cool new resource frm @faunalytics.bsky.social covering the major current issues in aquaculture
faunalytics.org/fundamentals...
faunalytics.org/fundamentals...
Aquaculture - Faunalytics
This comprehensive visual resource looks at the world of aquaculture, focusing on issues of greatest consequence: antibiotic use, environmental impact, and animal welfare.
faunalytics.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Very cool new resource frm @faunalytics.bsky.social covering the major current issues in aquaculture
faunalytics.org/fundamentals...
faunalytics.org/fundamentals...
This study shows that in-person encounters with animals help build connection and empathy, but I can't help feel sad for the poor stingrays who were less popular across all conditions than the more charismatic elephants
doi.org/10.1002/zoo....
doi.org/10.1002/zoo....
Impact of Animal Encounter Modality and Species on Zoo Visitor Knowledge, Concern, and Conservation Intent
Zoos fill an important role in connecting humans with nature, especially given an increasing rate of both urbanization and biodiversity loss. With the advent of new technologies, however, there are m...
doi.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This study shows that in-person encounters with animals help build connection and empathy, but I can't help feel sad for the poor stingrays who were less popular across all conditions than the more charismatic elephants
doi.org/10.1002/zoo....
doi.org/10.1002/zoo....
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
#science #philsci #books #education
Walt's got a new book out! I should be reading it, but I can't stop watching gullible wealth-hoarding elite participate in their new favourite pastime — starfish yoga!
Thankfully, his book can be downloaded, free for the next 2 weeks. I hear it's worth a read.
Walt's got a new book out! I should be reading it, but I can't stop watching gullible wealth-hoarding elite participate in their new favourite pastime — starfish yoga!
Thankfully, his book can be downloaded, free for the next 2 weeks. I hear it's worth a read.
September 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
#science #philsci #books #education
Walt's got a new book out! I should be reading it, but I can't stop watching gullible wealth-hoarding elite participate in their new favourite pastime — starfish yoga!
Thankfully, his book can be downloaded, free for the next 2 weeks. I hear it's worth a read.
Walt's got a new book out! I should be reading it, but I can't stop watching gullible wealth-hoarding elite participate in their new favourite pastime — starfish yoga!
Thankfully, his book can be downloaded, free for the next 2 weeks. I hear it's worth a read.
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
My new book 'Modelling Evolution' is now published! Please share. Available for free download for 2 weeks with this link: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Modelling Evolution
Cambridge Core - Philosophy of Science - Modelling Evolution
www.cambridge.org
September 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
My new book 'Modelling Evolution' is now published! Please share. Available for free download for 2 weeks with this link: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Last week @walterveit.bsky.social and I found a little wood pigeon nestling who'd come out of his nest. We were able to care for him at home for a couple of days and he's now safely with a wildlife rescue for his rehabilitation and eventual release 🐦❤️
September 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Last week @walterveit.bsky.social and I found a little wood pigeon nestling who'd come out of his nest. We were able to care for him at home for a couple of days and he's now safely with a wildlife rescue for his rehabilitation and eventual release 🐦❤️
New book chapter out with @walterveit.bsky.social, arguing that animals should still be important even from a longtermist perspective
academic.oup.com/book/60794/c...
academic.oup.com/book/60794/c...
Longtermism and Animals
Abstract. Work on longtermism has so far primarily focused on the existence and wellbeing of future humans, without corresponding consideration of animal w
academic.oup.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
New book chapter out with @walterveit.bsky.social, arguing that animals should still be important even from a longtermist perspective
academic.oup.com/book/60794/c...
academic.oup.com/book/60794/c...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Small announcement: my third book "Modelling Evolution" has been accepted for publication with CUP. 😊
August 13, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Small announcement: my third book "Modelling Evolution" has been accepted for publication with CUP. 😊
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
My paper ‘Animal Rights, Moral Motivation, and the Experience of Wonder’ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... has just been published at @the-joap.bsky.social In it, I argue for fostering a sense of wonder at individual nonhuman animals, & for making this the basis of a reverence-based respect.
Animal Rights, Moral Motivation, and the Experience of Wonder
Despite being strong, arguments for animal rights often fail to motivate. One reason for this is that rights are associated with concepts, such as respect, that are difficult to apply to nonhuman ani...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
My paper ‘Animal Rights, Moral Motivation, and the Experience of Wonder’ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... has just been published at @the-joap.bsky.social In it, I argue for fostering a sense of wonder at individual nonhuman animals, & for making this the basis of a reverence-based respect.
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
If you're an animal lover and haven't bought @zoophilosophy.bsky.social & @walterveit.bsky.social book yet, you need to. Their book “What are Zoos For?” is filled with info that can help you debate, discuss and inform others more confidently.
#philsky #animalrights #science
#philsky #animalrights #science
August 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
If you're an animal lover and haven't bought @zoophilosophy.bsky.social & @walterveit.bsky.social book yet, you need to. Their book “What are Zoos For?” is filled with info that can help you debate, discuss and inform others more confidently.
#philsky #animalrights #science
#philsky #animalrights #science
New podcast out! @walterveit.bsky.social and I talk with Kyle Johannsen about our book 'What Are Zoos For?'
newbooksnetwork.com/what-are-zoo...
newbooksnetwork.com/what-are-zoo...
Heather Browning and Walter Veit, "What Are Zoos For?" (Policy Press, 2024) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
New podcast out! @walterveit.bsky.social and I talk with Kyle Johannsen about our book 'What Are Zoos For?'
newbooksnetwork.com/what-are-zoo...
newbooksnetwork.com/what-are-zoo...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Looks fascinating book 📕 chapter @zoophilosophy.bsky.social
Our new book chapter is out, looking at self-awareness/personhood in nonhuman animals, and how it may relate to questions of suffering
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Self-Awareness and Personhood in Non-Human Animals
Beyond simple consciousness or sentience, some non-human animals may possess more sophisticated cognitive abilities linked to capacities for self-awareness or even personhood, capacities that may infl...
link.springer.com
August 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Looks fascinating book 📕 chapter @zoophilosophy.bsky.social
Auction of beautiful wildlife art, fundraising for an excellent cause (zoo welfare charity Wild Welfare)
www.jumblebee.co.uk/charityaucti...
www.jumblebee.co.uk/charityaucti...
August 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Auction of beautiful wildlife art, fundraising for an excellent cause (zoo welfare charity Wild Welfare)
www.jumblebee.co.uk/charityaucti...
www.jumblebee.co.uk/charityaucti...
Our new book chapter is out, looking at self-awareness/personhood in nonhuman animals, and how it may relate to questions of suffering
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Self-Awareness and Personhood in Non-Human Animals
Beyond simple consciousness or sentience, some non-human animals may possess more sophisticated cognitive abilities linked to capacities for self-awareness or even personhood, capacities that may infl...
link.springer.com
July 31, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Our new book chapter is out, looking at self-awareness/personhood in nonhuman animals, and how it may relate to questions of suffering
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
New paper published :) "The Role of Emotional Suffering in the Animal Kingdom" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
The Role of Emotional Suffering in the Animal Kingdom
This chapter considers a special version of the problem of animal suffering. While attempts have been made to explain the existence of pain in a theistic worldview, little attention has been paid to o...
link.springer.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
New paper published :) "The Role of Emotional Suffering in the Animal Kingdom" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Here are the Top 5 Dogs of the week!
July 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Here are the Top 5 Dogs of the week!
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Sorry to burden you with another jaw-dropping scandal. But what the government intends to do to chemicals regulation in the UK is chilling. Its consultation was slipped out so quietly that most of us missed it. When I read it, I saw why.
This week's column:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Want to import toxic chemicals into Britain with scant scrutiny? Labour says: go right ahead | George Monbiot
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Tory fantasy of a post-Brexit bonfire of regulations is coming true. Our bodies and ecosystems will pay the price, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
July 23, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Sorry to burden you with another jaw-dropping scandal. But what the government intends to do to chemicals regulation in the UK is chilling. Its consultation was slipped out so quietly that most of us missed it. When I read it, I saw why.
This week's column:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
A groundbreaking study reveals that red-footed #Tortoises experience long-term mood states, much like mammals and birds. Evidence of their #Sentience has implications for captive husbandry and #AnimalLaw.
#Reptiles #AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #Cognition
🔗➡️🐢 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#Reptiles #AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #Cognition
🔗➡️🐢 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
July 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A groundbreaking study reveals that red-footed #Tortoises experience long-term mood states, much like mammals and birds. Evidence of their #Sentience has implications for captive husbandry and #AnimalLaw.
#Reptiles #AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #Cognition
🔗➡️🐢 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#Reptiles #AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #Cognition
🔗➡️🐢 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
I recently participated as an expert panellist at a citizen’s assembly on the future of animal welfare, part of the RSPCA’s Animal Futures: The Big Conversation. Heather Browning, one of the other panellists, has written about the importance of work like this.
I recently had the chance to sit on an expert panel for the first ever citizens' assembly on animal welfare - I've written here about my experience
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
How citizens’ assemblies could improve animal welfare
Community discussions help to explore what the future may hold for animals by 2050.
theconversation.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:56 AM
I recently participated as an expert panellist at a citizen’s assembly on the future of animal welfare, part of the RSPCA’s Animal Futures: The Big Conversation. Heather Browning, one of the other panellists, has written about the importance of work like this.
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
July 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Veit and Browning are two philosophers who I always enjoy reading. I think they're adding a lot to the discussion of animal rights and sentience.
I recently had the chance to sit on an expert panel for the first ever citizens' assembly on animal welfare - I've written here about my experience
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
How citizens’ assemblies could improve animal welfare
Community discussions help to explore what the future may hold for animals by 2050.
theconversation.com
July 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Veit and Browning are two philosophers who I always enjoy reading. I think they're adding a lot to the discussion of animal rights and sentience.
I recently had the chance to sit on an expert panel for the first ever citizens' assembly on animal welfare - I've written here about my experience
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
How citizens’ assemblies could improve animal welfare
Community discussions help to explore what the future may hold for animals by 2050.
theconversation.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I recently had the chance to sit on an expert panel for the first ever citizens' assembly on animal welfare - I've written here about my experience
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
theconversation.com/how-citizens...
"Allogrooming duration increased with bystander number, suggesting that cattle potentially advertise relationships and status to peers." I absolutey love that cattle are showing off their friendships in front of others
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Strategic third-party interventions in feral ungulate affiliation | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Third-party interventions in agonistic behaviour play a key role in the maintenance
of social relationships, but very little is known about how interventions in affiliation
affect the distribution of ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
July 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
"Allogrooming duration increased with bystander number, suggesting that cattle potentially advertise relationships and status to peers." I absolutey love that cattle are showing off their friendships in front of others
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
RSPCA Australia is leading the way in animal welfare by listening to Heather and Walt.
Buy their book for your local library or someone you love who loves animals. #Auspol #Philsky #sentience
Buy their book for your local library or someone you love who loves animals. #Auspol #Philsky #sentience
July 6, 2025 at 11:08 PM
RSPCA Australia is leading the way in animal welfare by listening to Heather and Walt.
Buy their book for your local library or someone you love who loves animals. #Auspol #Philsky #sentience
Buy their book for your local library or someone you love who loves animals. #Auspol #Philsky #sentience