By Karolina Łukasik, University of Helsinki
I study multispecies conflicts in urban spaces and I’m most interested in “awkward others” and the animals we call “pests” - especially rats. Rats are our vilified neighbours, and their sheer presence in our spaces is seen as a sign of moral failure, intersecting with class, race and ethnicity, and the status of a migrant. My panel shows rats crossing a caution tape, having little regard for our human signs and ideas. What is dangerous or unsavoury for humans can present a wonderful opportunity for rats. I have been rescuing and fostering rats (particularly laboratory rats) for years, and learning from my animal companions has given me compassion for their wild urban counterparts. I hope my research can contribute to a more just coexistence with our non-human neighbours, especially those we call pests