News and commentaries
Latest from The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience
New piece Dr Steven McCulloch: "A call for scrutiny of the veterinary profession".
In this LSE British Politics blog, our Veterinary Policy Research Fellow, Dr Steven McCulloch argues that the veterinary profession wields significant influence over food systems, public health and farmed animal welfare. And yet, it lacks any meaningful scrutiny. Far greater accountability is needed to protect animals, people and the planet.
Expert Voices: Professor Jonathan Birch on Shaping Public Understanding and Policy on Animal Sentience
LSE Consulting have published an interview with Professor Jonathan Birch, exploring what led him to research animal sentience. It touches on foundational work, including contributing evidence to the UK Animal Sentience Act (2022), and introduces our interdisciplinary approach. The interview also reflects on good practices for researchers working between public understanding, industry, and policymaking.
Centre Director, Professor Jonathan Birch revamps Stanford Encyclopedia entry on “Animal Consciousness”
Professor Jonathan Birch has completed a major update of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Animal Consciousness. The revised entry now includes new material on non‑Western perspectives, methodological challenges, and the evolutionary big pictures.
Veterinary Policy Research Fellow, Dr Steven McCulloch publishes a new article in Vet Record
In a new article published in Vet Record, Dr Steven McCulloch addresses some of the most urgent challenges of our time - climate change, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), zoonotic disease, biodiversity loss and animal suffering. By examining these interconnected risks, he argues that veterinarians have a professional duty to support national meat‑reduction targets.
Animals and AI Research Officer, Dr Natasha Boyland joins a panel discussion at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026.
Our Animals and AI Research Officer, Dr Natasha Boyland, joins a panel discussion chaired by the Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) UK Campaign Leader, Anthony Field, on the topic "Sentient Beings: What Science and AI Reveal About Farmed Animals", exploring how AI is rapidly changing our understanding of - and interactions with - animals, providing opportunities and risks.
Archive: 2025
Vet Times report on Professor Jonathan Birch's contributions to the London Vet Show 2025
Our Centre Director, Professor Jonathan Birch contributed to a panel discussion on the topic: "AI on farms – is it good for vets and animal welfare?”. He emphasised that decisions made today will determine the direction of the sector.
The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI wins 2025 Nayef Al-Rodhan Book Prize
We’re delighted that our Centre Director, Professor Jonathan Birch, has been awarded the 2025 Nayef Al-Rodhan Book Prize (The Royal Institute of Philosophy), for The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI.
Read the announcement from The Royal Institute of Philosophy.
LSE Blog Article: Should you let AI train your dog? The lawless world of AI and animals
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform our relationships with animals. In this piece, Isabella Logothetis, Spencer Jury and Jonathan Birch argue that more must be done to ensure technological change works for, rather than against, the interests of other species.
Research for the World: Seeing animals differently: the science and ethics of sentience
This edition of LSE’s Research for the World spotlights Professor Jonathan Birch’s work on animal sentience. As our understanding of animal minds grows, so too does the challenge of turning insight into real‑world impact.
LSE announces the launch of The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience
This press release announced the establishment of The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, made possible through a £4 million multi‑year commitment from the Jeremy Coller Foundation.