Join the debate and improve animal welfare: AWF Discussion Forum 12 May 2014

Don’t miss the chance to add your voice to the debate on important topical animal welfare issues by registering now for the Animal Welfare Foundation's annual Discussion Forum.

AWF is the charity led by the veterinary profession. Our Discussion Forum brings together vets, vet nurses, animal welfare organisations, the media and parliamentarians to confront current welfare issues and inspire change.

Topics under discussion this year include:

• What psychological factors are involved in the growing problem of animal hoarding?
• Is a legislative muddle on animal transport causing extra pain, discomfort and distress?
• What does the offence of causing unnecessary suffering really mean?
• How pet MOTs are helping owners to understand the ‘five welfare needs’ message and improve the welfare of their pets.

 

With a dynamic cast of authoritative speakers, lots of time for audience interaction and the chance to network with others who share your interest in improving animal welfare, the Forum is not to be missed.

When:   Monday 12 May 2014 (10am to 5pm)

Where:  One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA

Delegates are also welcome to attend the joint AWF/BVA House of Commons reception afterwards from 7pm to 9pm.

For more information visit the AWF website where you can book online

Delegate rates

• Standard £85
• Registered Veterinary Nurses £50
• Recent graduates (up to eight years post-graduation) £50
• Veterinary undergraduates £30
  Price includes a two course lunch and refreshments.

We hope to see you there.

Florence Bowman

AWF Administration Manager

7 Mansfield Street
London W1G 9NQ

Telephone: 020 7908 6375
Email: bva-awf@bva.co.uk
Website: www.bva-awf.org.uk

Registered charity: 287118

Dick Vet and Roslin staff go to India

Animal health and welfare experts from Edinburgh are taking part in an international conference in Bangalore.

The five-day event, which is being organised jointly by the University, will look at ways to improve the quality of life for both livestock and pets, as well as diseases threatening India’s wildlife.

Topics for discussion include new techniques to address infectious diseases in herd animals; finding new ways to tackle India’s growing problem of rabid dogs; and examining treatments for other zoonotic diseases - those affecting both humans and animals.

“Advances in Veterinary Research: Impact and Opportunities” opens on 19 February and includes a public lecture on the subject of genetically-engineered livestock.

              “The improvement of animal health and, by association,
                human health in India is a pressing concern, especially
                with the numbers of domestic and livestock animals set
                to rise significantly in the coming years. My colleagues
                and I want to learn from India’s experience and use our
                expertise to help tackle a diverse range of animal
                diseases and welfare issues”.

                  Professor Natalie Waran
                    Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the University of Edinburgh


Working together

The conference is a collaborative event between the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Commonwealth Veterinary Association; Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar; and the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore.

              “India is a tremendously important country for the
               University of Edinburgh. The quality of the students who
               apply to us is very high and the numbers wishing to
               study at Edinburgh continues to rise. This conference will
               allow discussion of crucially important issues that affect
               India and the wider world and I look forward to valuable
               partnerships being established between Edinburgh and
               our friends in India”.

                 Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea
                   Principal, the University of Edinburgh


Online learning for all 

Conference delegates will also hear about Edinburgh’s use of technology to provide distance-learning opportunities for around the world.

In addition to a large number of postgraduate courses, Edinburgh has pioneered the provision of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These free online courses are available to anyone. Typically lasting six weeks, Edinburgh’s MOOCs include courses such as “Animal Behaviour and Welfare” and “The Discovery of the Higgs boson”.

To date, more than 600,000 people have enrolled for Edinburgh’s MOOCs.


Working with India

Edinburgh has a long history of collaboration with Indian universities and research institutes. In 1875 the Indian Association, the first South Asian Student Association ever in the United Kingdom was founded at Edinburgh and the following year saw the first Indian student graduate from the University.

Over the past few decades Edinburgh’s relationship with India has grown and strengthened and this year the University has almost 250 Indian students enrolled- more than twice as many as 5 years ago.

In 2013, the University launched the Edinburgh India Institute. This provides a focal point to collate all research and cultural links between Edinburgh and India. Activities in 2013 included hosting a visit from students with disabilities from Delhi University and sending a group of over 80 Edinburgh students on the College on Wheels project across northern India.

The University’s India office, based in Mumbai, provides a local liaison point for Edinburgh’s activities across the country.

Advancing animal welfare in India – Next week’s international conference in Bangalore

With a rising human population there is an associated greater demand for food particularly in rapidly developing countries such as India. Alongside this there is increasing international concern about standards of animal health and welfare and an enhanced awareness of the need to find effective and sustainable measures to produce safe food to safeguard human welfare. Over recent years we have increasingly looked to our nation’s veterinarians to ensure that the animals used for food, companionship or research are not only productive and healthy but are also managed humanely. It is becoming increasingly emphasised that international standards of animal welfare are vital not only for animal disease management, but also for sustainable productivity, food safety and public health, and there is an expectation that the veterinary profession take a leading role in promoting respect for animals in a progressive society.

Understanding the issues and finding new ways of enhancing animal health and welfare is clearly a complex and important area and one that is of particular relevance to the veterinary community in India. Early next week, scientists from Edinburgh will travel to Bangalore to present at an International animal health and welfare conference. The conference brings together the Commonwealth Veterinary Association who in partnership with other organizations is playing a lead role in addressing the problems of animal welfare throughout its member countries, with the University of Edinburgh and associated research institutes, such as the Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College.  The key organisers, Dr Abdul Rahman, President of the CVA and Professor Nat Waran, Director of the RDSVS’s Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare, have put together a 5 day programme which will not only explore advances in veterinary research and key messages for India, but will also address the internationally important issues of animal welfare and canine rabies control. It is expected that this gathering of animal scientists, veterinarians, NGO’s and government representatives will allow the exploration of opportunities for new international collaborations to enable the sharing of best practice and development of new initiatives for advancing animal health and welfare research, education, policy and practice in India and wider afield.