Animal welfare research impact is measured by its ability to drive positive changes in the way animals are treated, ensuring their wellbeing. There has been a huge increase in animal welfare research over recent decades, but improvements to global welfare standards are much slower than expected. While researchers may generate valuable insights and recommendations, implementing change in real-world settings is complex. Additionally, there may be resistance from individuals, industries and governments to adopt new practices that incur additional costs or require big changes to existing systems.
Addressing animal welfare research and impact gaps requires improved communication, knowledge translation, and funding allocation to help bridge the gaps between researchers, advocacy groups, industry and policymakers and make a meaningful impact on animal lives. Thus, we are excited to announce the launch of our workshop website. Global Synergy for Animal Welfare is a free online event taking place on the 19th-20th June which aims to help develop a greater understanding of how to improve communication and sharing of knowledge, in order to ensure greater impact, better lives for animals, and for the people who depend on them.
We are also honoured to reveal our distinguished plenary speakers, Dr. Dennis Bahati (Africa Network for Animal Welfare), Dr. Helen Beattie (Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa, New Zealand), Prof. Georgia Mason (University of Guelph, Canada), Dr. Lynne Sneddon (the University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Dr. Leopoldo Stuardo (World Organisation for Animal Health) further details of whom can be found on our website. Registration and abstract submission are also now open, and we invite contributions from animal welfare scientists, animal welfare NGOs, industry and governments, which demonstrate clear examples of where research has resulted in improved animal lives.
