Mickey Gjerris

Mickey Gjerris serves as Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Food and Resource Economics since 2007, conducting interdisciplinary research on ethical relationships between humans, animals, and nature. His work bridges academic theory with public policy engagement across environmental and bioethical domains.

Education:

• M.Th. in Theological Bioethics
• PhD in Theological Bioethics

Research focuses on climate change ethics, animal ethics, environmental ethics, bioethics, and medical ethics. Current projects examine gene-editing in plant breeding, insect protein production ethics, zoo animal welfare standards, and virtue ethics applications for research integrity training. He contributes extensively to public discourse through media engagement and academic publications.

Recent publications reveal sustained engagement with biotech ethics (de-extinction, gene editing), critiques of greenwashing in climate policy, and innovative frameworks for animal welfare governance. His work consistently applies virtue ethics and deep ecology perspectives to contemporary sustainability challenges, emphasizing practical implementation in policy and industry.

Scientific Awards:

• Mikkel Hindhede Award by the Danish Vegetarian Society (2018) for advancing public debate on animal ethics

Advising and funding involve participation in over 10 national/international research projects. He receives honoraria from diverse entities including churches, municipalities, NGOs (e.g., Danish Society for Animal Protection), and corporations (e.g., Novo Nordisk) for lectures and workshops, plus royalties from published works. Public engagement exceeds 40 talks annually.

Collaborative work includes membership in Sustainia's think tank since 2020 and prior service on the Danish Council of Ethics (2011-2016). Current partnerships span the Ministry of Environment and Food, academic institutions, and environmental NGOs, focusing on translating ethical frameworks into actionable policies for food systems and conservation.