Mark Mefed
Mark Mefed received a grant from CAF for “The Human-Animal Studies Course.”
Human–Animal Studies (HAS) and Critical Animal Studies (CAS) as disciplines are significantly underdeveloped in Russia. Currently, there are no dedicated courses, few prominent public speakers, and limited academic engagement with HAS and CAS. The grant supported Mefed in launching a semi-academic, semi-activist podcast on veganism and critical animal studies — a format and thematic focus that had not previously existed in the Russian-language media landscape. Five episodes were released, covering Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Gary Francione, Carol Adams, and (eco)feminist approaches to animal ethics, each approximately one hour long. The podcast reached nearly 700 listeners across platforms, with audiences in Russia, the United States, Ireland, Serbia, and Finland, among others.
“The grant from the foundation made it possible for us to begin a project we had long dreamed of and to bring it into reality.”
By raising awareness of varied thinkers, Mark hopes to inspire deeper, more nuanced debates and foster the growth of this vital discipline within Russia’s academic and activist spheres. It should be noted that this work is controversial in Russia.
