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....
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
I am pleased to announce that I am organizing the annual Ratio conference of our department this year on the topic of animals and philosophy.
walterveit.substack.com/p/ratio-annu...
walterveit.substack.com/p/ratio-annu...
Ratio Annual Conference on Animals and Philosophy
I am pleased to announce that I am organizing the annual Ratio conference of our department this year on the topic of animals and philosophy.
walterveit.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:59 AM
I am pleased to announce that I am organizing the annual Ratio conference of our department this year on the topic of animals and philosophy.
walterveit.substack.com/p/ratio-annu...
walterveit.substack.com/p/ratio-annu...
So excited to see this recommendation coming from the Animal Sentience Committee, really hoping it leads to some real change in decapod protection
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
So excited to see this recommendation coming from the Animal Sentience Committee, really hoping it leads to some real change in decapod protection
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
New video essay - link in first comment
February 3, 2026 at 11:02 AM
New video essay - link in first comment
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
⏰ This Saturday (7 Feb): “Letting Animals Speak” with @zoophilosophy.bsky.social (University of Southampton). How can animal-computer interaction support animal agency and welfare?
📅 5 PM GMT | Online 🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HpyXUDk7QSOsH3tyGiHE4A<a href="/hashtag/%2Fregistration" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#/registration
📅 5 PM GMT | Online 🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HpyXUDk7QSOsH3tyGiHE4A<a href="/hashtag/%2Fregistration" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#/registration
February 3, 2026 at 2:01 PM
⏰ This Saturday (7 Feb): “Letting Animals Speak” with @zoophilosophy.bsky.social (University of Southampton). How can animal-computer interaction support animal agency and welfare?
📅 5 PM GMT | Online 🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HpyXUDk7QSOsH3tyGiHE4A<a href="/hashtag/%2Fregistration" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#/registration
📅 5 PM GMT | Online 🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HpyXUDk7QSOsH3tyGiHE4A<a href="/hashtag/%2Fregistration" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#/registration
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Recorded a new episode
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
What’s it like being a raven or a crow?
This recording is based on an article Heather and I published in The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Recorded a new episode
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Now available in essay format - link below!
January 27, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Now available in essay format - link below!
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
📣 What if animals could help design their own worlds?
Join @zoophilosophy.bsky.social for Letting Animals Speak—a lecture on animal agency, ethics & animal-computer interaction.
📅 Feb 7 | Online | Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Join @zoophilosophy.bsky.social for Letting Animals Speak—a lecture on animal agency, ethics & animal-computer interaction.
📅 Feb 7 | Online | Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 29, 2026 at 12:33 PM
📣 What if animals could help design their own worlds?
Join @zoophilosophy.bsky.social for Letting Animals Speak—a lecture on animal agency, ethics & animal-computer interaction.
📅 Feb 7 | Online | Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Join @zoophilosophy.bsky.social for Letting Animals Speak—a lecture on animal agency, ethics & animal-computer interaction.
📅 Feb 7 | Online | Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Staff Entomologist — Insect Welfare Research Society
Work with Us
www.insectwelfare.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Local specialists’ experience and skills in animal behaviour studies: insights from wild chimpanzee field assistants
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
Local specialists’ experience and skills in animal behaviour studies: insights from wild chimpanzee field assistants
Abstract. The study of wild animal behaviour and cognition has greatly benefited from the foundational work of local specialists (LSs), particularly field
royalsocietypublishing.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Local specialists’ experience and skills in animal behaviour studies: insights from wild chimpanzee field assistants
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Philosophy friends - I've written a case for why you should become a nihilist to create a better world. Please let me know your thoughts!
walterveit.substack.com/p/why-effect...
walterveit.substack.com/p/why-effect...
January 21, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Philosophy friends - I've written a case for why you should become a nihilist to create a better world. Please let me know your thoughts!
walterveit.substack.com/p/why-effect...
walterveit.substack.com/p/why-effect...
Not at the moment, but PM me with your email and I can send a copy!
January 21, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Not at the moment, but PM me with your email and I can send a copy!
Led by Alex Schnell (@dralexschnell.bsky.social) and coauthored with me, Andrew Crump, Charlotte Burn, and Jonathan Birch (@birchlse.bsky.social)
January 21, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Led by Alex Schnell (@dralexschnell.bsky.social) and coauthored with me, Andrew Crump, Charlotte Burn, and Jonathan Birch (@birchlse.bsky.social)
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Sentience in cephalopod molluscs: an updated assessment
This article evaluates the evidence for sentience – the capacity to have feelings – in cephalopod molluscs: octopus, cuttlefish, squid, and nautilus. Our framework includes eight criteria, covering b...
doi.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:48 AM
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Oh yes, I have two of these! Fingers crossed we all get our resolution soon ...
January 20, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Oh yes, I have two of these! Fingers crossed we all get our resolution soon ...
Love this new evidence of the cognitive sophistication of cows and hope that it might make a few people rethink whether they want meat on their plates
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Why a tool-using cow could change how we see farm animals
A pet cow has learned to scratch herself with a broom, showing creative problem-solving skills that make it harder to ignore the fact that these animals have minds, says Marta Halina
www.newscientist.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Love this new evidence of the cognitive sophistication of cows and hope that it might make a few people rethink whether they want meat on their plates
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Just posted some more reflections on panpsychism and the state of philosophy.
walterveit.substack.com/p/minds-all-...
walterveit.substack.com/p/minds-all-...
Minds All the Way Down
On Panpsychism and Problematic Norms in Philosophy
walterveit.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Just posted some more reflections on panpsychism and the state of philosophy.
walterveit.substack.com/p/minds-all-...
walterveit.substack.com/p/minds-all-...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
I wrote about a small essay about metaphilosophy
open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
January 16, 2026 at 6:40 AM
I wrote about a small essay about metaphilosophy
open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
New RSPCA Animal Welfare Science Update, including articles on reptile enrichment, factors influencing dog adoptions, rehoming racehorses, welfare assessment for farmed fish, and best practice for tagging wild sharks
www.rspca.org.au/learn/animal...
www.rspca.org.au/learn/animal...
Animal Welfare Science Update
Every quarter, RSPCA Australia’s science team produces the Animal Welfare Science Update. The aim of the publication is to raise awareness of recent…
www.rspca.org.au
January 15, 2026 at 11:52 AM
New RSPCA Animal Welfare Science Update, including articles on reptile enrichment, factors influencing dog adoptions, rehoming racehorses, welfare assessment for farmed fish, and best practice for tagging wild sharks
www.rspca.org.au/learn/animal...
www.rspca.org.au/learn/animal...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
New newsletter post. Consider subscribing. :) walterveit.substack.com/p/more-than-...
More Than Zombies: Considering the Animal Subject in De-Extinction
Should we "bring back" extinct species?
walterveit.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:57 AM
New newsletter post. Consider subscribing. :) walterveit.substack.com/p/more-than-...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
1st draft of the book I've been editing submitted: 'The Welfare of Wildlife'. Both milestone & anticlimax. Looking forward to publication in late 2026. @zoophilosophy.bsky.social @walterveit.bsky.social @nikolaj-bi.bsky.social @markjonesvet.bsky.social @vassilipapa.bsky.social @5mbooks.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 10:08 AM
1st draft of the book I've been editing submitted: 'The Welfare of Wildlife'. Both milestone & anticlimax. Looking forward to publication in late 2026. @zoophilosophy.bsky.social @walterveit.bsky.social @nikolaj-bi.bsky.social @markjonesvet.bsky.social @vassilipapa.bsky.social @5mbooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Now available in video format: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swpx...
What is consciousness?
YouTube video by Walter Veit
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Now available in video format: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swpx...
Reposted by Dr Heather Browning (Veit)
Wrote a new essay: open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
Is Consciousness Everywhere?
On the pseudophilosophy of panpsychism and its parallel to creationism
open.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Wrote a new essay: open.substack.com/pub/walterve...
Interesting new paper shining light on the welfare issues within the exotic animal cafes common throughout Japan. While it might be nice to have a chance to get up close with an exotic animal, most species' needs cannot be met in these spaces.
doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
Unveiling welfare concerns in Japanese exotic animal cafes
Exotic animal cafes are a growing phenomenon within Japanese cities. These cafes are registered under the same license as other animal exhibits such a …
doi.org
January 13, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Interesting new paper shining light on the welfare issues within the exotic animal cafes common throughout Japan. While it might be nice to have a chance to get up close with an exotic animal, most species' needs cannot be met in these spaces.
doi.org/10.1292/jvms...
doi.org/10.1292/jvms...