“I think (MSU) thinks, just like society does, that animal issues are interesting and important,” said David Favre, law affiliate professor for the MSU College of Law. “It will emphasize that this is an issue we want to be promoting at MSU.”

ASI started the fellowship program as part of their human-animal studies initiative. The program is hosted by a select university and provides an opportunity for professional research and development within the field, Friedlander said.

“We have scholars submit proposals for research projects they’re working on and a panel reviews the submissions and selects seven fellows,” she said. “They have to do their own work and research, but they also get together for discussions.”

The fellowship is a six-week-long program to promote the consideration of animal issues in academia, Favre said. This is the first year that MSU has hosted the fellowship, he said.

During those six weeks, seven select fellows present their research topics, conduct research and then present their progress, Friedlander said.

The program began this week, which is being hosted by three MSU professors, David Favre, Linda Kalof, professor of sociology and social science and Thomas Dietz, professor and associate dean of social science, she said.

“We’re very pleased at the support that Michigan State is giving the fellowship,” Friedlander said.

Applicants must at least be graduate students, but most of the fellows selected for this year’s program are professionals in their field of interest, she said. One of the fellows is a doctorate student, one is an attorney and the other five are professors from all over the country, she said.

Human-animal studies, or HAS, is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field that examines the complex and multi-dimensional relationships between humans and other animals, according to ASI.

Most people who are involved in HAS, work in the social sciences or humanities, Friedlander said. They are sociologists, physiologists, anthropologists and philosophers, she said.

“It doesn’t involve experimentation,” she said.

“It’s the study of the complex relationships between humans and animals.”

ASI has been in existence for about three years and is the result of a merger between two organizations, Society & Animals Forum and the Institute for Animals and Society, said Lynne Chaimowitz, administrative assistant for ASI.

“Animal issues are important to bring up because animals don’t have a voice and they are very important,” Chaimowitz said.