Why this topic?

The EU Directive 2010/63 protects animals used for research if they are recognized as sentient—currently defined as vertebrates and cephalopods—based on evolving scientific and philosophical understandings of their capacity to experience subjective states (e.g., pain, emotions, consciousness). Yet, this definition remains contested and dynamic:

• How has our understanding of sentience shifted over time, from Cartesian “beast-machines” to Darwinian continuity and modern neuroscience?

• What scientific and technological advances (e.g., neuroimaging, behavioral studies) have refined our ability to characterize sentience—and where do gaps persist?

• Why does sentience matter? For research models, it dictates ethical safeguards; for society, it fuels growing concerns about animal treatment. But what of non-sentient animals? Are all living beings deserving of moral consideration regardless of regulatory classifications?

We will gather together scientists, philosophers and ethicists to:

1. Clarify the concept of sentience: How do we define and measure it? What distinguishes it from intelligence or consciousness?

2. Examine its implications: How does sentience shape research practices, welfare standards, and public policy?

3. Explore future directions: Should the scope of protection expand (e.g., to certain invertebrates)? How can science inform ethical and legal frameworks?