Focus on human-animal relationships: Public lecture series enters its third round

Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) is continuing its successful public lecture series "Human-Animal Relationship #govegan": the third edition of the lecture series will begin on 16 October 2025 in the winter semester 2025/2026.

"In an increasingly complex world, it makes little sense to look at major challenges such as animal welfare, environmental awareness or ethics in isolation. With the lecture series, we want to create a platform that brings together different perspectives and contributes to the social debate," emphasises Prof. Dr Jan Ehlers, Vice President for Teaching and Learning and Chair of Didactics and Educational Research in the Health Care System at the UW/H. Together with the Junior Professorship of Digital Health, held by Junior Professor Dr Theresa Sophie Busse, and Dr Julia Nitsche, a member of staff at the Chair of Didactics and Educational Research in Health Science, participants in this event will shed light on the many facets of the human-animal relationship - from animal ethics, law and religion to medicine and ecology.

The aim is to make the relevant topic accessible to a broad public and to promote dialogue across specialist boundaries. To this end, ten experts from various subject areas will provide insights and encourage critical discourse. Germany's best-known dog trainer Martin Rütter, for example, will teach the basics of canine body language and communication and talk about the species-appropriate coexistence of humans and dogs. Chistian Gruber, veterinarian and grief coach, will also devote his lecture to the relationship with pets and shed light on how we deal with grief for animal family members. 
Nutrition also plays a central role in the human-animal relationship. Hanne Winter and Louise Johansen from the Vegetarian Society of Denmark will show how government funding, dialogue and social support can drive innovation in the plant-based food sector and thus boost a food transition.

The lecture is free and accessible online for all interested parties. All lectures will be streamed live via Twitch. The events take place weekly on Thursdays from 17:30 to 19:00.

Further information:

After regular participation, a certificate can be issued if required, which can be used, for example, for independent recognition as an elective or further training. Interested parties can contact mtb@uni-wh.de before the start of the event.

The lecture series ends on 29 January 2026. Further information on all dates and the live stream can be found on the lecture series page.