People
The EASE working group brings together academics and postgraduate research students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds across the University of Exeter (including anthropology, philosophy, sociology, geography, bioscience, psychology and animal behaviour) whose research and teaching interests explore and address human interactions with other living things.
The Exeter Anthrozoology and Symbiotic Ethics working group has received some funding for a pilot study aimed at exploring the ways in which humans live alongside free roaming dogs. As part of this project, entitled Tails from the Streets’, we are attempting to establish a multi-species workspace where humans and dogs can co-exist and learn from each other. There are numerous reasons for this, including:
- Some team members are canophobic (afraid of dogs). By having friendly dogs in the office we can build a better understanding of dog behaviour and help overcome this fear before embarking on fieldwork with free roaming dogs. One of our hypotheses is that fear of dogs is a key factor which influences the way free roaming dogs are managed. The team are working with a human counsellor and several dog trainers to explore the issues associated with canophobia (in both humans and dogs) and how best to tackle them.
- Having dogs in the office will also enable us to trial different novel methodologies which will be employed in the field, including Qualitative Behavioural Assessments (QBA). Having various individual dogs in the office will mean that behaviours and the social dynamic will vary depending on which dogs are present and this will help when it comes to identifying and recording a wide range of behaviours and interactions in the field.
- While there has been a great deal of research conducted to date which argues for the benefits (to human health and wellbeing) of interacting with dogs, especially in relation to stress reduction, very little has focussed on the canine perspective. By conducting regular QBA in the office environment we will be able to address that oversight and contribute to discussions about the benefits or shortcomings of both multi-species interactions and the inclusion of dogs in the workplace.
Left to right: Bleddyn, Lottie, Annwn, Abi.
Jes Hooper
My PhD working title is Civets in Society: Understanding the Human-Animal Interactions within Civet Trades. The aims of my research are to investigate the contextual impact of culture, economy and politics within human-civet interactions, whilst challenging the dualistic discourse between humans ("us") and animals ("them").
Angi Millwood Lacinak
The working title for Angi's Anthrozoology PhD research is 'Investigating the influencers of human perceptions of elephant (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) welfare during elephant-human interactions in zoo settings'. Her MA thesis explored factors that influence elephant participation in human-elephant interactions in a zoo setting. She also researched human perceptions of animal emotional states (and correlated welfare) in an aquarium setting for an applied course. Both studies are a source of inspiration for her PhD.
Teresa Tyler
My PhD research centres on aspects of hunting with dogs in Cyprus. The hunting industry is thriving in Cyprus with the activity being practiced enthusiastically. It receives endorsement and condemnation in equal measures but with recent reports of mass illegal bird trapping, a negative focus has once again turned on the hunting fraternity.
Zhuoyuan Zhang
My PhD project is aimed at exploring how to be in communion with domestic dogs, with a concentration on their positive experiences.
Melani Nardone
The working title for my PhD is “A Multispecies Negotiation of Disease and Decision-Making During a Novel, Eco-Friendly Genetic Modification Project”. My thesis research will examine the knowledges and processes which will shape interspecies negotiation and decision-making during a proposed ‘eco-friendly’ introduction of genetically modified white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) into an island ecology to address Lyme disease.
Dr Thomas Aiello
I am an associate professor of history and African American studies at Valdosta State University in Georgia, USA. Here at Exeter I am working to merge my vocation and avocation by turning my research focus to animal studies.
Irene Perrett
Irene works on the intersubjectivity of more-than-human grief, attempting to navigate the blurred boundaries of human-nonhuman relations to evaluate whether the shared testimony of animals who feel or witness grief can engender realisation of their inner worth and values, and how this may reposition and centre more-than-human lives.
Emily Stone
The title of my PhD research is ‘The Cat is Nature’s Beauty’: Ethnography of More-Than-Human Interrelatedness in UK Cat Shows.
Gill Howarth
My PhD research is exploring human-cat social interactions to understand some of the more unrecognised cat behaviours and the reasons for them, which despite their prevalence seem to remain broadly unnoticed.
Yancen Diemberger
I have always been curious of the interactions between humans and the environment and fascinated by inter-species communication.
Michelle Szydlowski
Michelle’s PhD will focus on framing conservation and care in Nepal. By examining the motivations of different organizations involved in Nepal, she will try to discover a common language and set of goals that can be used to promote future conservation efforts. In addition, her research will focus on the discourse versus practice of caring for orphaned juveniles of various species, including humans.
Kris Hill
In 2019 I embarked upon my PhD research, focusing on human-cat relations within urban communities. I am building the foundations of a new career – either as an academic, an educator, or a researcher within a non-profit organisation, dedicated to improving the lives of both human and non-human animals.
Tiamat Warda
For six years, I worked as a self-employed guide dog mobility instructor. My practical experiences during this time opened my eyes to the challenges and hardships which many in the guide dog sector encounter - especially, it could be argued, the guide dogs themselves. Acknowledging these realities is what initially motivated me pursue academia with the hope of contributing to future developments in the sector through research. I embarked on the MA in Anthrozoology at the University of Exeter in 2017 and graduated with distinction in 2019. My PhD research addresses a gap in existing literature on the work-lives of guide dogs and guide dog mobility instructors, as well as the schooling of guide dog teams.
Louise Hayward
I have often watched wild animals fitted with various identifiers (tags, leg rings), GPS monitors and bio-loggers, and wondered about possible impacts on their behaviour and welfare. This year (2020), I am embarking on research to discover more about the use of these wildlife monitoring devices.
Molly Sumridge
I am an instructor of Anthrozoology at Carroll College and dog behavior consultant in Helena MT. My professional interests focus on primitive/ancient dogs, and behavior modification for dog sports and pet aggression.
Sian Moody
I am researching the reintroduction of the wildcat (Felis silvestris) into Devon and exploring practices of care involved in their conservation. Drawing on ideas around ethical conservation and concepts developed within anthrozoology, I aim to pay attention to the entangled lives of wildcats and their spacio-temporal interactions with each other and other species (including humans).
