About the Centre
The 2027 Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School will be held at Merton College, Oxford, from 2-5 August, 2027. The topic will be the Ethics of Using Animals for Sport and Entertainment.
The Summer School, organised by the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, is now calling for abstracts of presentations to be submitted by experts interested in speaking at the event.
Millions, if not billions, of animals are used for the purposes of entertainment, “sport” or recreation worldwide every year. These activities include (but are not limited to): hunting with dogs, coursing, shooting, animal fighting, hunting with ferrets, pigeon shoots, cock fighting, hunting with catapults, canned hunts, greyhound racing, blood fiestas, pigeon racing, trophy hunting, horseracing, bullfighting, animal rides, circuses, angling, rodeos, and animals in film.
The Summer School will examine questions, such as: How far, if at all, can these pursuits be morally justified? How precisely are the animals harmed? What are the effects on the participants and observers involved? What are the possibilities for change?
Academics worldwide, including (but not limited to) philosophers, theologians, sociologists, psychologists, legal experts, as well as animal protection professionals are invited to join the deliberations.
Abstracts (150 words) should be sent to the Director of the Summer School, Dr Clair Linzey from potential speakers by Monday 15th February 2027. More details here.
Papers from the Summer School may be published in a book volume or in the Journal of Animal Ethics.
“The Summer School is a hugely popular event and always sells out, demonstrating that the subject of animal ethics is generating increasing interest. People enjoy the rigorous intellectual discussions that lead to new discoveries and perspectives” said Clair Linzey, Director of the Annual Oxford Animal Ethics Summer School.
The Summer School is now in its twelfth year and annually attracts over 70 speakers and 150 attendees from all over the globe. Photos from the eleventh Summer School can be found here.
Short films on each of the previous Summer Schools can be viewed on the Centre’s website. For example, the Animal Thinkers film is here.
EDITOR’S NOTES:
Dr Clair Linzey is available for interview.
For more information, please contact Sophie Inglis: sophie@panpathic.com / 07815 860 082.
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics is an independent centre pioneering ethical perspectives on animals through academic research, teaching, and publication. The Centre comprises more than 100 academic Fellows worldwide.
Web: www.oxfordanimalethics.com/home
Instagram: @oxfordanimalethics
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oxfordanimalethics
LinkedIn: Dr Clair Linzey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/clair-linzey-ab012272/