Consider enrolling in a course or MOOC to get a substantial foundation.
Attending conferences can be pricey and time-consuming, but there's no better way to get access to a huge variety of animal rights experts and activists in so short a period of time. Besides hearing panels and talks by vetted presenters, you'll also have the opportunity to meet and have conversations with a bunch of like-minded, active people who could be potential collaborators in the future.
