4th Days of animal STudies "Seagull is not a bird"

For the fourth time, the Centre for Integrative Bioethics (together with partners) is organizing a scientific-cultural event Days of animal STudies, which examines the ways in which non-human animals enrich our culture and the ways in which humans treat them. One of its main goals is to provide a richer insight into the destructiveness of this treatment and to arouse sensibility and critical thinking regarding the formation of a different approach to animals. This year, the event will take place in Split from October 19 to 22. The event will be held in a hybrid manner, in site and online. The application deadline is August 1, 2022. Completed application forms should be sent to the e-mail address jos.guc@gmail.com. Please find the application form HERE.

The permanent topics of the Days of animal STudies include the following issues:

• the relationship between culture and nature
• the role of animals in spiritual culture
• biological characteristics of animals
• animals in ecosystems and species extinction
• the question of the existence and form of culture in animals
• animals in art (literature, music, film ...)
• animals in the imagination and the unconscious
• animals in folklore, mythology, and religion
• mistreatment and killing of animals
• animals in material culture
• animal nutrition
• the moral status of the animal
• experimenting on animals
• animals in sports and entertainment
• animals in education
• the legal status of the animal.

This list does not exhaust the possible ways of approaching this topic, just as it does not exclude the networking of the mentioned issues. Also, topics can be approached from different perspectives: philosophical, scientific, artistic, religious, activist, etc.

A special theme this year (which does not exclude the previously mentioned topics) is birds, and more specifically the seagull. It is seemingly paradoxically stated in the subtitle that Seagull is not a bird. However, this primarily concerns the fact that seagulls may be something much more than "mere animals". One of the points of the Days of animal STudies is to point out that animals are not mere passers-by, ie. that they play an indispensable role in our lives. The seagull is one of the animals where this almost should not be proven. Regarding this year's specific topic, applicants can address some of these issues:

• the symbolic role of the seagull
• seagull in the ecosystem
• a seagull in the imagination of the Mediterranean
• seagull in literature
• seagull in music
• the role of birds in culture
• ornithological features of birds
• extinction of birds
• birds in art (literature, music, painting...)
• religious notions of birds
• educational use of birds
• moral and legal protection of birds.

Also, this list does not exhaust possible topics and approaches.

The co-organizers of the Days of animal STudies are:

• Croatian Bioethical Society
• Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research
• Association "Petit Philosophy"
• Center of Excellence for Integrative Bioethics