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Sept 2026

1. Free webinar: The Animal Welfare Centre are pleased to announce a free webinar with Dr Jill MacKay – ‘Artificial Intelligence and Animal Welfare: Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Technologies’ on 1 Oct 2026 (6-7pm GMT). Places are limited, please register from our event page.
2. SciFAW conference: AWC represented at this year’s SciFAW conference. Katharine Ross presented ‘Consumer demand, intervention efficacy and potential canine welfare implications of the puppy trade: Evidence from temporal and linguistic patterns in classified online adverts’, on behalf of Stella Mazeri, Verity Bowell, Kirsten M. McMillan (Dogs Trust). Izzy Terry’s poster ‘Analysing Scottish SPCA Operational Canine Data to Inform Practices, Policy and the Public’ with Zupei Liu, Gilly Mendes Ferriera Scottish SPCA) and Rebecca Doyle. Sarah Brown contributed ‘Animal health and welfare: Time for a refresh?’ by Alistar Lawrence et al., ‘Socio-cognitive development of pigs in enriched and barren housing condition’s byCabrera Vasquez et al., and ‘Neurobiology of Positive affect’ by Goursot et al. at the LIFT workshop.
3. SciFAW updates: On behalf of our colleagues at SciFAW, we would like to promote:

• Systematic Review Grant US$100,000 funded by AAALAC International for a rigorous systematic review on welfare recommendations for animals used in research and teaching. Deadline 1 Nov. 
• Publication discount 40% off Assessing Animal Welfare: A Guide to the Valid Use of Indicators of Affective States (eds. Mason, Nielsen & Mendl) for Science for Animal Welfare members, available until 30 Nov 2026 – contact SciFAW for the discount code
• New Centenary Research Award – up to £250,000 available for projects addressing either a major animal welfare challenge, or a fundamental animal welfare question. Find out more from their website

4. Online course: A World of Good Initiative in partnership with the Animal Welfare Centre, R(D)SVS have launched the Good Welfare Governance course; providing professionals involved in international, federal and provincial governance foundational skills in animal welfare around the world. Visit the course website.
5. New Scottish Government guidance: School experts helped shape the Scottish Government’s 2026 Welfare of Equids: Guidance, putting mental wellbeing and natural behaviour alongside physical health for the first time. The University team includes Mrs Bryony Lancaster, Dr Sarah Brown and Dr Gemma Pearson, with support from Cynthia Naydani and colleagues across Equine Science and the Animal Welfare Centre. Read the Welfare of Equids: Guidance, or find out more about our Equine Science and Equine Behaviour programmes, and the Animal Welfare Centre.

Aug 2026

1. LinkedIn: If you would like to connect with over 850 people with a passion for animal welfare as well as being kept up to date about publications, conferences, funding, and much more - join the Animal Welfare Centre LinkedIn page
2. Student research shortlisted: Helena Charlton, a final-year veterinary student, had her undergraduate SRC project shortlisted as one of the top four out of more than 150 projects submitted this year. Helena travelled to Nepal where she investigated the impact of gender dynamics on the welfare of working equids in Nepalgunj. Her project was funded by World Horse Welfare and supported by Animal Nepal. Helena was supervised by Marie Rowland.
3. BEVA Day:  Gemma Pearson (Edinburgh), Ellie Girgis and Tamzin Furtado (Liverpool) delivered a BEVA CPD day, in Edinburgh, on 17 June. The day focused on practical equine behaviour. There were various speakers and the Vet School teaching horses were also involved (see pictures). Feedback from delegates “Excellent. A good mix of lectures, practical and discussion. Plenty of chance to look at cases” and “A really informative course with lots of learning that can be applied in everyday work. The human clicker training was such a good way of highlighting how difficult it can be for a horse to understand what we are asking of them”.
4. Online course: A new online course from the University of Edinburgh, Sustainable Control of Haemonchosis in UK Livestock Grazing Systems (FAMACHA Card Training). This course is aimed at small ruminant farmers, livestock keepers (e.g. camelid owners), SQPs (suitably qualified professionals who are licenced to sell anti-parasitics such as anthelmintics for GIN) and veterinary surgeons. Upon completion of the course “users” would be posted 2x FAMACHA cards. Further information about the course can be found on the website.

Updates - 2026

Updates - 2025

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