Thursday, 16 October 2025 New course at UP FAMNIT brings ethical perspectives to environmental, conservation and animal studies

A new course, Introduction to Environmental, Conservation and Animal Ethics, is being implemented at UP FAMNIT by esteemed Professor Carolyn Stephens.

The course offers students an in-depth introduction to the concepts and principles of environmental, conservation, and animal ethics, exploring how ethical frameworks shape research, policy, and decision-making across these fields. It also examines the historical development of ethical ideas in the context of global environmental change and the biodiversity crisis, as well as current trends in international ethical standards and policy frameworks.

Under Prof. Stephens’ guidance, students will engage with key topics such as environmental and animal ethics, land and ecosystem ethics, climate ethics and justice, and the integration of ethics and rights in environmental and conservation contexts.

Professor Carolyn Stephens is an environmental epidemiologist and ethics expert with appointments at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University College London, and the University of Primorska (since 2024). Her research focuses on equity, environment, health, ethics, and human and environmental rights worldwide. With over 25 years of teaching experience in international development and environmental ethics, she has worked extensively in countries such as India, Liberia, Brazil, and Argentina. She has led international research projects, advised UN agencies, serves on the editorial boards of five peer-reviewed journals, and has held executive roles in global organizations including the International Association of Ecology and Health and the Health and Environment Alliance. Professor Stephens also sits on the International Ethics Advisory Board of the EU’s BEPREP programme and has been recognized with the UK Royal Society Kohn Award for Public Engagement in Science and the Mayor of London’s Academic Excellence Award.