In the winter term 2026/2027, the interdisciplinary research network TiMeS is organizing an interdisciplinary lecture series entitled „Von Menschen und anderen Tieren” (translatable as “Of Humans and Other Animals”). The series comprises eight lectures, five of which will be given by ZIN members. It begins on October 20, 2026, with a lecture by Prof. Anne Käfer titled „Vom ius animalium. Eine Frage der Rechtfertigung” (translatable as “On the ius animalium: A Question of Justification”).

A complete list of all lectures can be found on this poster for the series. We would like to highlight the lectures by the participating ZIN members here:

After the series will open on October 20 by Prof. Anne Käfer (Protestant Theology; see above), Prof. Svenja Ahlhaus (Political Science) will speak on November 17 on „Die politische Repräsentation von Tieren” (translatable as “The Political Representation of Animals”). On December 1, Prof. Asmaa El Maaroufi (Islamic Theology) will turn to the topic „Der Gott der Menschen- und der Tiere?” (translatable as “The God of Humans and of Animals?”). Later that same month, on December 15, Prof. Tillmann Buttschardt (Landscape Ecology) will give the lecture „Auf der Suche nach der ‚wieder-verbundenen’ Landschaft” (translatable as “In Search of the ‘Reconnected’ Landscape”). On January 19, Prof. Mitja Back (Psychology) will speak on „Persönlichkeit und soziale Beziehungen bei Mensch und Tier” (translatable as “Personality and Social Relationships in Humans and Animals”).

All information about the lecture series can also be found here on the homepage of the TiMeS research network. The series is open to the public and is aimed at students, researchers, and the interested general public.

Source: Announcement of the lecture series on the TiMeS homepage, September 1, 2026, available online here.