Exeter College Supernumerary Fellow curates new exhibition at the Bodleian 

Exeter College Supernumerary Fellow Professor Charles Foster is curating a major new exhibition exploring the evolving relationship between humans and their animal companions. Opening at the Bodleian Libraries on 11 March 2026, Pets & their People invites visitors to consider why humans have welcomed animals into their lives for more than 10,000 years and what that history reveals about our own identities and behaviours. 

The exhibition draws on rare items from the Bodleian’s collections, including one of the earliest recorded depictions of an assistance dog and a rare copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that has never been displayed in the UK before. It also features historical imagery, manuscripts, and cultural artefacts that trace how pet keeping has shifted from practical companionship to emotional and cultural significance. 

Running until 27 September 2026 in the ST Lee Gallery, the free exhibition invites visitors to ponder fascinating questions: Are pets shaping us as much as we shape them? How have emotional bonds, societal expectations, and cultural storytelling influenced our relationships with animals? 

Pets & their People is accompanied by a new book of the same name by Professor Foster, which combines psychology, science, and cultural history to explore the complex bond between humans and their pets. 

You can find full details of the exhibition, via the Bodleian website and you can purchase your copy of Pets & their People from Blackwells and other booksellers.