Animal welfare researchers under one roof for the first time
| Animal welfare researchers under one roof for the first time One of the world's best-known naturalists and broadcasters, Sir David Attenborough, will officially open a new state-of-the-art Animal Welfare and Behaviour building at the University of Bristol's Vet School tomorrow [Thursday 30 April] | |
The new £3.9 million building has a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) 'excellent' rating for sustainability in design, materials and energy usage. This will provide substantial energy savings to the University over the medium term but will also provide a focus for research sponsors from the UK and Europe with an interest in sustainability.
The new building and its facilities will help the group maintain and build on its current position as a world leader in animal welfare research.
The group's four main research areas are: fundamental behaviour, cognition, emotion and stress; risk factors and solutions; human-animal interactions; strategies for change. Through these research areas the group will focus on the following priorities:
- To carry out high quality fundamental research into animal motivation, cognition and emotion, including the development of
novel approaches, to underpin new and better methods for animal welfare assessment. - To increase understanding of human factors influencing animal welfare and behaviour.
- To define husbandry risk factors and develop practical solutions for existing and emerging welfare problems.
- To develop and evaluate implementation strategies which promote human actions that improve the welfare of animals, at all
levels from individuals to populations. - To develop and utilise biostatistical, epidemiological and mathematical modelling approaches in the study of animal welfare and behaviour
Professor Mike Mendl, Head of the Animal Welfare and Behaviour research group, said: "The group is renowned for its work in animal welfare and has a significant role in shaping the agenda in what is becoming a very important, rapidly growing area of research.
"Public interest in animal behaviour and animal welfare continues to grow, with widespread implications for the way in which animals are treated, used and included in society. This new building provides us with facilities that will enable the group to continue to be a major player in animal welfare research throughout the world."
Facilities within the building include office accommodation for up to 75 people, two small meeting rooms, and a larger seminar room, which will also provide web conferencing facilities.
The new building was designed by NVB architects and constructed by Bristol-based construction company Morgan Ashurst.
Added on: 29/04/09.
Email this article to a friend or shareVoices for Horses offers news, articles and videos from third party providers unless otherwise stated. We do not endorse the views expressed or content and make it available to you only as a service. All news items, articles and videos are copyright of the authors, film makers and original publications.
