Representing Animals in Public Policy by Dr Steven McCulloch

Our next Bitesize session is presented by Dr Steven McCulloch and focuses on how to represent animal interests in the public policy process. Dr Steven McCulloch is Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Studies at the University of Winchester. Steven qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2002 from Bristol University and holds a BA Philosophy from Birbeck College, London University. He has a PhD from the Royal Veterinary College, London University, for his thesis ‘The British animal health and welfare policy process: accounting for the interests of sentient species’. Steven’s research focus is on the ethics and policy of animal protection. His research has shown how UK government policy making excludes the interests of sentient animals. Steven proposes animal welfare impact assessment and independent ethical analysis as key reforms. He has applied these reforms to controversial policy issues such as bovine tuberculosis and badger culling. His more recent work has focused on Brexit, which he argues poses substantial risks to animal protection in the UK, EU and internationally.