The Centre for the Interaction of Animals and Society (CIAS)
CIAS is a multi-disciplinary research center within the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. It provides a forum for addressing the many practical and moral issues arising from the interactions of animals and society. The study of human-animal interactions is still a new and developing field that straddles the boundaries between traditional academic disciplines. CIAS strives for an interdisciplinary approach and the involvement of scholars and researchers from a wide variety of different backgrounds and interests.
CIA’s goal is to promote understanding of human-animal interactions and relationships across a wide range of contexts including companion animals, farm animals, laboratory animals, zoo animals, and free-living wild animals. CIAS aims to:
- Study the positive and negative influence of people’s relationships with animals on their physical and mental health and well being.
- Investigate the impact of these relationships on the behaviour and welfare of the animals involved.
- Encourage constructive, balanced, and well-informed debate and discussion on the ethics of animal use.
- Use the knowledge and information gained from this work to benefit people, and promote the humane use and treatment of animals.