معرفی
Karin Dirke is a Professor in History of Ideas at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, Stockholm University. She leads the Human/Animal-studies network at Stockholm University (HAS@SU) and is a co-founder of the Environmental Humanities Network. Since 2018, she has co-run the research school in Environmental Humanities at Stockholm University.
Professor Dirke's research primarily focuses on the historical relationship between humans and animals, with particular emphasis on Swedish source material from the 18th to 20th centuries. Her work explores more-than-human encounters and the meaningful contexts that have shaped humanity's relationship with animals throughout history. She has conducted extensive research on the Swedish animal welfare movement, anthropomorphism, and historical discussions about wolves and other large carnivores. Her current research project, "Reading Pain: Cultural Conceptions of Animal Suffering," investigates how animal pain is conceptualized in cultural representations found in literature, popular science, and spiritual belief.
Professor Dirke's publications reveal a consistent focus on human-animal relationships across different historical periods and contexts. Her work spans from studies of 19th century wolf encounters to contemporary examinations of animal welfare practices. A significant thread throughout her research is the exploration of how cultural contexts shape our understanding of animals and their suffering. Her recent publications in the Environmental Humanities demonstrate a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human relationships with the natural world.
As a leader in her field, Professor Dirke has established important research networks including the Human/Animal-studies network and the Environmental Humanities Network at Stockholm University. These initiatives foster collaboration across disciplines to address complex questions about humanity's place within ecological systems and our ethical responsibilities toward other species.
