About

Some might say this is an impossible dream, but that boundary between the possible and the allegedly impossible is one that we aim to move.
Professor Jonathan Birch, Centre Director

Key facts

LSE is a world class research institution where real-world betterment underpins all research activity and global reputation.
We launched through a multi-year commitment of £4 million from the Jeremy Coller Foundation, who seek to create positive impact on globally critical issues through strategic action, collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Key to the centre is the inaugural director, Professor Jonathan Birch. Professor Birch is a faculty member within LSE’s renowned Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method and a recognised leader in animal sentience, cognition and welfare.

Our Mission

Together, we share a mission of delivering high-quality research for positive impact. Enacting our mission, we bring together a unique interdisciplinary community of thought leaders across philosophy, veterinary medicine, evolutionary biology, comparative psychology, neuroscience, behavioural science, computer science, artificial intelligence, economics and law.

We aim to develop new approaches to studying the feelings of other animals scientifically and use the emerging science of animal sentience to design better policies, laws and ways of caring for other animals.