Yhteiskunnallisen ja kulttuurisen eläintutkimuksen seura

The Finnish Society for Human−Animal Studies promotes research in human−animal relations in social sciences and humanities. It is a collaboration organisation for researchers working in the field and for students interested in animal topics. The Society promotes also multidisciplinary studies on human−animal relations.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest to study animal issues from social scientific and humanities perspectives. This increased academic interest is related to the growing politicisation of animal issues. Human—animal studies is a broad research field that includes a diversity of research topics, such as the social and cultural construction of the understandings of animals; beliefs, values and attitudes related to animals; contesting animal issues in political arena; and animal welfare legislation and governance. The whole range of human−animal relations is included in the research field, from companion and farm animals to wildlife and animal entertainment.