Invitation: Finland’s first ever critical animal studies event

Critical animal studies and inter-species social justice

Wednesday, the 16th of January 2019 at 16:00-20:00

Venue: Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Maijansali, Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki

What is critical animal studies? The first ever Finnish event on critical animal studies will discuss how our relationship with other animals should change and what the role of critical animal studies is in this change. Keynote speakers are Helena Pedersen, who is Associate Professor in Education and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogical, Curricular and Professional Studies at the University of Gothenburg, and Richard Twine, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Centre for Human Animal Studies at Edge Hill University, UK. Both Pedersen and Twine have carried out pioneering work in the field of critical animal studies.

Helena Pedersen has developed critical animal studies especially in the field of education. She has published various articles on themes of critical pedagogy and animal studies and written a book “Animals in Schools: Processes and Strategies in Human-Animal Education”. Pedersen is also co-founder of the network GU-CAS: University of Gothenburg’s Network for Critical Animal Studies in the Anthropocene.

Richard Twine has published many articles and chapters on issues like biotechnologies and animal genomics, ecofeminism, veganism and sustainable food transition. Twine is the author of the book Animals as Biotechnology – Ethics, Sustainability and Critical Animal Studies (Routledge, 2010), and co-editor, with Nik Taylor, of The Rise of Critical Animal Studies – From the Margins to the Centre (Routledge, 2014).

There will be a panel discussion in Finnish among critical animal studies scholars, which will discuss the role of critical animal studies in promoting inter-species justice. The panel will lead the audience to perspectives, premises and goals of critical animal studies and describe the research that is currently being done in the field of critical animal studies in Finland. In addition, the panel will discuss what new questions and perspectives critical animal studies bring to the discussion about the social and cultural status of animals.

At the event there will be also some art works that deal with the status of animals, including the video installation Embrace Your Empathy! by Laura Gustafsson & Terike Haapoja.

Event Schedule

Times and events are provisional and subject to change. The first part of the event will be in Finnish and the second part, comprised of the keynote talks and starting at 17:45, will be in English.

16.00: Video installation Embrace Your Empathy! by Gustafsson & Haapoja

16.10: Collegium research fellow, docent Elisa Aaltola: Opening words

16.25: Coordinator for Network for Critical Animal Studies in Finland Salla Tuomivaara: Presentation of the Network for Critical Animal Studies in Finland

16.30: Panel discussion: Critical animal studies challenging speciesist society and culture – perspectives from Finnish research

Panelists:

– Postdoctoral researcher Tarja Koskela, conducts research on crimes against animals

– University lecturer, docent Kuura Irni, conducts research on veganism and queer perspectives on critical animal studies and climate change debates

– Junior researcher Annika Lonkila, conducts research on animal breeding and new technologies

– Postdoctoral researcher Sanna Karhu, conducts research on feminist theory, political philosophy, ecofeminist theory and biopolitics of industrial slaughter

– Marianna Koljonen is a PhD student in Comparative Literature and writes her dissertation on ’farm’ or livestock animals

Panel chair: Salla Tuomivaara.

17.30: Short break

18:00: Associate Professor in Education & Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogical, Curricular and Professional Studies, Helena Pedersen: Critical animal studies and education

19.00: Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences & Co-Director of the Centre for Human Animal Studies, Richard Twine: Understanding the significance of critical animal studies

20.00: The event ends

The event is free of charge and open for everyone.

ACCESSIBILITY: The seminar room (Maijansali) is on the same floor as the entrance and it is fully accessible. There is a fully accessible toilet in the same floor.

The event is organised by the Network for Critical Animal Studies in Finland and is funded by the Kone Foundation.

Tapahtuman kuva teoksesta Juho Kerola & Kristo Muurimaa: Eläintehtaat. Into.