About Us
The Human Animal Research Network (HARN) at the University of Sydney is an interdisciplinary and cross-Faculty research group comprising members from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science and the Sydney Law School. From the perspectives of Science, Law, Veterinary Science and the Humanities, both the ‘animal’ and the ‘human’ carry different meanings and unique philosophical genealogies, and much can be learnt when these perspectives interact, consult, teach and learn from each other. HARN aims to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue within the university and between the university and community groups, international human animal studies organizations and other Australian University based organizations.
Enjoying a rapid growth within the Academy, both here and internationally, Human Animal Studies addresses and is also inspired by everyday interactions with animals. These might include conservation issues, animal welfare, the meaning of humane research, the roles of zoos and wildlife parks, questions relating to why relationships to pets seem ‘different’ to feeling for other animals; why some animals have protective legislation and others do not; why some of us eat particular animals but not others; why being ‘an animal’ is akin to denigration, and what cruelty to animals says ‘about us’. Human Animal Studies thus brings both human and animal together, while often interrogating the history of those two terms.
Contact us
The co-ordinator of HARN is Dr Fiona Probyn-Rapsey for the period 2011 and 2012. Please direct enquiries to her:
Dr Fiona Probyn Rapsey
Department of Gender and Cultural Studies,
School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry,
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Room J401 Quadrangle,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
Media enquiries should be made through the University of Sydney's Media Office
Join our mailing list
If you wish to be included on the HARN mailing list, please email HARN Coordinator, Dr Fiona Probyn-Rapsey: . This list provides information on conferences, events, news items, publication announcements, funding opportunity announcements and other items of interest.