The Chemistry of Connection: How Our Relationships With Animals Shape Health and Well-Being

What does science have to say about the bonds we form with other animals — and why do those bonds matter so deeply for our health? In this talk, Dr. Kevin Morris, American Humane endowed chair and executive director of the University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal Connection, explores the emerging research behind human-animal relationships and what it means for individual and community well-being. Drawing on a remarkable career that spans molecular biology, cancer research, and social work, Dr. Morris bridges disciplines to illuminate how our lives with other animals are not just emotionally meaningful, but biologically and socially profound. His work challenges us to think about health as something shared across species — and to consider what a more equitable, science-informed relationship with the animal world could look like for all of us.