Konstantin is a philosopher interested in both applied and theoretical questions in animal ethics. In his dissertation, he explored how Cora Diamond’s moral philosophy can be interpreted as a positive account of animal ethics. His recent research focuses on the moral significance of personal human-animal relationships, ethical questions surrounding emerging biotechnological innovations such as organoids, and the ways in which animals are framed within moral theories.
Claudia Towne Hirtenfelder is an animal studies scholar and podcaster. She has a PhD in geography from Queen’s University Canada and is interested in the urban animal histories and futures. Claudia is also the founder and host of The Animal Turn and Animal Highlight podcasts. She is currently an external lecturer in Change Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Rym Nouioua is a doctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Vienna. She works at the intersection of ecology and science communication. Her research focuses on bat ecology and behaviour in urban landscapes, climate change, biodiversity education, and conservation practice. She is particularly interested in how the distinct ways in which animals perceive environmental change can inspire more inclusive approaches to biodiversity and public engagement.
Carlo Salzani is a Gastforscher at the Messerli Research Institute of Vienna and a faculty member of the Paris Institute for Critical Thinking (PICT). His research interests include animal ethics, literary animal studies, and biopolitics, and his last publications include the edited collections The Biopolitical Animal (2024) and Animality in Contemporary Italian Philosophy (2020), as well as the books Agamben and the Animal (2022) and Animals, Empathy, and Anthropomorphism: The Limits of Imagination (2025).
The Vienna Animal Studies group and its members are deeply committed to advancing critical animal studies through insightful research, engaging blog posts, and thought-provoking publications. Our goal is to bridge the gap between academia, activism, and public awareness, fostering a richer understanding of animals' lives.
The Austrian Bat Station (Fledermausstation Österreich) is a non-profit organization. We are a team of volunteer animal keepers, veterinarians, biologists, as well as many others who are dedicated to helping our native bats. Our work includes everything from giving advice via telephone to securing found animals, rehabilitating them, and releasing them back at the location where they were found, as well as many sleepless nights during the baby season. The goal of our work is to rehabilitate the patients as quickly as possible so that they can return to their natural habitat. We hope to fix the poor reputation bats have and clear up persistent rumors and preconceived notions. Through our educational work, we want to share the stories of these incredible animals and how exciting and useful they are for the world.
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