Very cool new resource frm @faunalytics.bsky.social covering the major current issues in aquaculture 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....

#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.

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 🐦❤️

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...

Small announcement: my third book "Modelling Evolution" has been accepted for publication with CUP. 😊

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.

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

New podcast out! @walterveit.bsky.social and I talk with Kyle Johannsen about our book 'What Are Zoos For?' newbooksnetwork.com/what-are-zoo...

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...

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...

New paper published :) "The Role of Emotional Suffering in the Animal Kingdom" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

Here are the Top 5 Dogs of the week!

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...

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...

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.

#Philsky #Sentience www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb74...

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...

"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/...

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

New RSPCA animal welfare science update, featuring our recent work on welfare risks for cephalopods/decapods, plus research on guinea pig welfare needs, insect welfare indicators, increased cow-calf contact in dairy systems, and circular aviaries for captive birds www.rspca.org.au/learn/animal...

I feel like I'll spend my life hearing one amazing song, tracking down the whole album to the disappointed realisation that the band has no other song that even comes close to resembling it

Lab-grown meat offers an ethical alternative to traditional meat production, significantly reducing environmental impacts, animal cruelty, pandemics, and food insecurity. Embrace this innovation because it is the future, and it will help save our planet.🌏 #FoodSecurity #ClimateChange #AnimalWelfare

I very much appreciate this report from the UK's sentience committee, urging the government to give due regard to the welfare of local wild animals when planning new infrastructure www.gov.uk/government/p...

Another exciting step forwards for lab grown meat products. Growth in this industry can only be a good thing for reducing animal suffering. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

Mish and Lucy need to do more reading and less breaking out of enclosures. They're from Albania, so their caretakers will need to translate “what Zoos Are For?” while bears come down from a massive glucose fructose high. #PhilSci #Philsky #Books #Zoology www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

Perfect afternoon to chill on the couch and learn some animal welfare science

Lovely review by Lisa Riley on our book, What Are Zoos For?

📖 NEW BOOK REVIEW 📖 Check out the latest book review published in Animal Welfare: What Are Zoos For? By Heather Browning and Walter Veit. Reviewed by Lisa Riley. 🔗 Read the full review here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #AnimalWelfare #AnimalWelfareScience

My friend and colleague Remco Heesen once told me study of social epistemology of science made him "less trusting of any particular scientific paper but more impressed by science as a whole." I honestly think that's the right lesson to draw. But I think holding both attitudes doesn't come naturally.

Made an appearance on a BBC radio station :) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Fantastic report from the Humane Slaughter Association on how to transition to humane slaughter for wild-caught fish (of which *trillions* are caught and killed annually) www.hsa.org.uk/downloads/hs...

Whenever I find a bit of science that is really cool there is like a 25% chance that @aptshadow.bsky.social has already written a scifi novel about it

Nice results from the recent consultation on food label reform: "There was strong support from across all sectors, from over 99% of individuals and 86% of organisations, for mandatory method of production labelling reform to apply to both domestic and imported products." www.gov.uk/government/c...

🎶I get funky, doin the monkey🎶 So, who's having a crabtastic #Caturday? #philsci #PhilSky Off course, cephalopods, and decapods are sentient. We're also more conscious than all the addicts, currently passed out from taking too much hard liquor and synthetic drugs. IK,R?

Today in marine invertebrates

Great summary by @faunalytics.bsky.social of our recent paper on welfare risks for cephalopods and decapods faunalytics.org/seafood-anim...

The philosophy student society awarded me a prize for the most popular philosopher in the department 😊

Running my first workshop "Are there Unidimensional ‘Common Currencies’ of Value?" - come by on the 18th of June :) philevents.org/event/show/1...

Wrote an editorial doi.org/10.1177/1059...

My comment on the assisted dying bill www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Ex...

Great to see some more discussion highlighting the need for welfare protections for captive invertebrates wildwelfare.org/managed-inve...

I find it so sad that the response to a record number of octopus in the sea is "yay! more profit!" www.theguardian.com/environment/...

My new paper with @walterveit.bsky.social looks at the case of black soldier fly farming to examine what best practice in farmed insect welfare might look like and how to achieve it doi.org/10.1079/abwc...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a raven or a crow? These birds are clever, curious and socially complex. New research by philosophers @walterveit.bsky.social & @zoophilosophy.bsky.social is helping us understand the conscious experience behind those sharp eyes.

Always say good morning to your local corvids.

Scientists have long overlooked animal consciousness. How did they think these animals were getting around, finding food and mates, building nests and deciding what to do next. Did they think animals were computers? Did they think computers were like animals? They aren't. Animals are as conscious as