About
Animal Studies conducts qualitative inquiry about nonhuman animals and human-animal relations. This interdisciplinary academic inquiry involves the arts, humanities and social sciences but also some branches of life sciences.
The Sheffield Animal Studies Research Centre (ShARC) is a network of Faculty, early career fellows, postgraduate researchers, Masters and undergraduate students. We collaborate and host speakers, conferences and other events, always seeking ways to foster the interdisciplinary field of animal studies.
The University of Sheffield is recognised as a leader in animal studies, with the Millennial Animals conference (2000) regarded by the Papers of the Modern Language Association as foundational in the field.
Sheffield is unique in having a significant number of animal studies scholars from diverse disciplinary areas. A particular focus of research expertise in ShARC is the political and cultural representation of animals; however, the Centre’s remit is conceived more broadly to include any form of scholarly understanding of animal life and human-animal relations.
At the University of Sheffield, animal studies research is and has been conducted across the Faculties of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences in a number of disciplines (literature, film, performance, philosophy and critical theory, SIIBS, music, history, archaeology, politics, sociology, geography, and law).
Aims of the Sheffield Animal Studies Research Centre (ShARC)
The Sheffield Animal Studies Research Centre aims to be the preeminent location internationally for research in the Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences (and these areas’ interactions with other fields of research) that considers nonhuman animals and human–animal relations.
The Centre is led by our three directors: Professor Robert McKay (English), Professor Alasdair Cochrane (Political Theory and Ethics) and Dr Eva Haifa Giraud (Digital Media & Society).
Further aims and objectives
To showcase and develop Sheffield’s already established international excellence in animal studies.
To provide a supportive, inclusive and critically challenging research environment for established academics, ECRs, graduate students, and novice (UG and PGT) researchers at the University of Sheffield, from the full range of relevant disciplines, to enrich their work in interdisciplinary animal studies.
To provide networking and collaborative opportunities for the pursuit of larger team-based research projects that bring together animal studies researchers from across Sheffield, nationally and internationally.
To facilitate dialogue between competing discourses and challenge established viewpoints within and beyond the academy around questions of the value of animal life.
To foster institutional investment in animal studies (such as collaborative postgraduate programmes).
If you are interested in conducting research as part of ShARC, or have any other queries, please contact any one of the co-directors. Details can be found on the People page.