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What Is Kimmela?
The Kimmela Center is devoted to transforming our relationships with nonhuman animals from exploitation to respect by combining academic scholarship with animal advocacy.
Kimmela in Action
Our work is published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at professional conferences. We collaborate with other organizations to translate scientific findings into accessible and useful information for the general public and other professionals.
What Is a Scholar Advocate?
Scholar advocacy is a new professional model for animal advocacy based on applying scholarship to animal advocacy efforts.
The Kimmela Solution
Kimmela offers a unique solution. We are the go-to source of scientific and academic expertise on nonhuman animals, bringing objectivity and credibility to the pressing issues we’ve identified in our three main areas of work.
What We Do
Our three main areas of work bring the power of science to animal advocacy; raise a new generation of scholar advocates; and create a new future for animals in captivity.
Bringing Science to Animal Law
Kimmela is at the center of the intersection of science and animal law, leading with new online courses, initiatives, and collaborations with top animal law and policy programs.
Promoting Scholar Advocacy
Working with young people and their teachers to raise a new generation of scholar advocates and to move animal advocacy into the mainstream of academia.
Applying Science to Animal Advocacy
Kimmela applies peer-reviewed science to advocacy for the protection and rights of farmed animals, captive wildlife, and animals used in therapy.
About the Kimmela Center
Our three main areas of work bring the power of science to animal advocacy; raise a new generation of scholar advocates; and create a new future for animals in captivity.
Our Unique Mission
There are many organizations dedicated to animal advocacy but none that have as their charter the melding of academic scholarship and animal advocacy.
The Team
Kimmela is dedicated to promoting scholar advocacy for animals through education and to moving animal advocacy into the mainstream of academia.
Publications & Media
Our latest webinars, peer-reviewed papers, online interviews and conversations, and video presentations and articles about the Kimmela Center.
Bringing Together Science and Animal Law
At this webinar, we explore how lawyers can effectively use science in their animal protection legal work.
“I Am NOT an Animal” – a Kimmela White Paper
We explore the psychological dynamics of our treatment of nonhuman animals in the context of our deep fear of death.
Webinar: Dolphin Assisted Therapy, Autism, and Pseudoscience
Is there any evidence that this dolphin lucrative swim program is an effective treatment for autism and other conditions?
Read More Webinar: Dolphin Assisted Therapy, Autism, and Pseudoscience
The Blood Harvest of Horseshoe Crabs is a Moral Fiasco
The blood of these animals is being used in biomedical research in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Read More The Blood Harvest of Horseshoe Crabs is a Moral Fiasco
Events
Conferences, webinars and interviews – Upcoming events and highlights of past ones
The Minds of Whales and Dolphins
At this year’s Roberts Memorial Lecture, Dr. Marino spoke about the remarkable evolution of the cetacean brain
The Brooks Institute Conference
This year’s conference focused on pursuing projects and initiatives to advance law and policy pertaining to animals.
Animal Law: Visions for the future
Dr. Marino will be speaking on “Dolphin and Whale Cognition and Self-Awareness, and Implications for Dolphin and Whale Welfare” at this landmark conference celebrating 200 years of legislation outlawing cruelty to nonhuman animals.