Jonathan Birch

Jonathan Birch is a Professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Principal Investigator of the Foundations of Animal Sentience project. He joined LSE in 2014 after serving as a Junior Research Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he earned his PhD in 2013 with a dissertation on Kin Selection: A Philosophical Analysis. His research focuses on animal sentience, cognition, welfare, and the evolution of altruism and social behavior. He has also explored ethical implications of AI and consciousness in non-human entities.

Birch’s work led to the UK’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, which extended legal protections to cephalopods and decapods. He has authored two influential books: The Philosophy of Social Evolution (2017) and The Edge of Sentience (2024). He received the Philip Leverhulme Prize in 2014 for his contributions to interdisciplinary research.

His research integrates philosophy, biology, and ethics, addressing topics like invertebrate welfare, AI sentience, and the precautionary principle. He collaborates across disciplines to advance evidence-based policies and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies and animal welfare.