FFrancesco De Giorgio is a biologist, ethologist, naturalist
Born in 1965 in Italy.
Graduating from Parma University in 1989, Francesco began his career as an independent field researcher, supporting several universities while indulging his lifelong passion for horses and dogs as an Equine and Canine Learning Professional (helping owners enhance their relationships with animals)
Active within the field of anti-speciesist philosophy.
Founder of the International Learning Animals Study Institute together with his wife José, he develops and promotes a knowledge paradigm, consisting of both theory and practice, within a liberation battle for Animality.
The “immersive” combination of a practical and critical approach regarding animal science and the coexistence with an extended family of animals, support his activities of study developments, academic and non-academic lectures and other activities of diffusion where Francesco illustrates, explains and teaches the application of the Learning Animals socio-cognitive model of learning, of relationship development and facilitation-ability.
Francesco dedicates his energy not only to facilitate animals in difficulty, but also teaches how to change perspective and how to understand nonhuman animal quality of life, from an animality point of view. He puts “The Animal Question” in general in a different light, from a critical perspective, refering to the liberation of animal subjectivity and the animal mind, from an anthropocentric and speciecist heritage, cultural imprinting and in general the animal training industry.
Simple and everyday gestures, such as distributing hay for horses or carrying out activities connected to a life in coexistence with animality, are intwined with an intense background of studies and knowledge, a profound insight regarding animal cognition, which over the years has led to a unique, multidisciplinary model (the LA socio-cognitive model) for reflection and understanding of the animal perspective.
Described by his university mentor and the former Director of the International School of Ethology (Erice, Italy), the late Danilo Mainardi, as “a man who works with his head and his heart and his hands,” Francesco “walks the walk and talks the talk,” integrating scientific knowledge into ethical day-to-day practice.
Francesco is in fact the author of several scientific articles, popular articles, and popular science books, in particular with a critical view towards the anthropocentrism and speciesism within animal science and day-to-day culture. Among his published books; Dizionario Italiano / Cavallo (2010), Comprendere il Cavallo (2015) – both published in Italy, Equus Lost? (2017) – published in the United States, aka The Cognitive Horse (2013), In the name of Animality (2018) – self published, with the Spanish translation En nombre de la Animalidad – currently in progress.