Melanie Challenger | High profile supporter | RSPCA - RSPCA
Melanie Challenger
Melanie Challenger is an author, broadcaster, and bioethicist whose work focuses on environmental history, philosophy of science, and the relationships between humans and animals in our modern world, which she terms 'natural philosophy'. Melanie also hosts the podcast The Psychosphere, which explores the diverse intelligences on Earth, including animals. Her books include How to Be Animal: A New History of What it Means to be Human and Animal Dignity: Philosophical Reflections on Nonhuman Existence.
Passion for animal welfare
Alongside her research, Melanie has a great passion for animals and their welfare and has provided us with her unwavering support and expertise in recent years, exploring areas that offer us a new perspective. She contributed to our 2022 'Book of Essays: What have animals ever done for us?' with 'Heaven is Feral', an essay looking at the importance of valuing the qualities of animal species, not just the human species. Melanie also attended the first of our annual Wilberforce Lectures in October 2022, which explored our future alongside animals on this planet and what we can do to improve it.
We're excited to continue our relationship with Melanie as one of our Vice Presidents, and cannot wait to learn more from her expertise and unique philosophical perspective.
"As a young girl, I received a certificate from the RSPCA for some ideas I had sent to them on how to house animals with respect. I can only have been ten or so at the time! So it is with great delight that, all these years later, I can put my research in philosophy and ethics to work in supporting the charity, and helping to shape the ideas and strategies that might make the world a better place for other animals. I am looking forward to our relationship continuing to grow and supporting them in the years to come."
Melanie Challenger
