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Education & Research

Research

Science-based knowledge has been key for understanding animals´ abilities to feel and cope with their environment. If measures to improve animal welfare are to be effective, they must be based on this scientific knowledge. 

Animal welfare science is a fast-moving and multidisciplinary field. Yet it is imperative to keep up with it in order to most positively influence the way societies think and feel about animals and how they are treated, as well as shaping animal welfare policy, legislation and economic aspects of animal keeping and usage by humans.

A growing number of research institutes and scientific networks are specializing and focusing their work in animal welfare.  


Research Institutes and Centres


The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

Worldwide renowned specialized centre at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies whose aim is to improve the quality of life for all animals through education, research, training and by influencing policy at the highest level.
www.ed.ac.uk/vet/jeanne-marchig-centre 


Animal Welfare Education Centre (AWEC), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Autonomous University of Barcelona

The startup promotes animal welfare through education, scientific advice and research and innovation services.
awecadvisors.org/en/


Animal Welfare Competence Centre for Africa (AWECCA), Makerere University Kampala

The first specialised centre in Africa engages in research, outreach and education that foster good welfare practices and sustainable ethical interactions of animals, humans and environment.
awecca.org/ 


Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 

The organization is an independent registered charity that works with the animal welfare science community worldwide to develop and promote improvements in the welfare of different animals under human care.
www.ufaw.org.uk/ 


Animal Welfare Science and Ethics Group, Royal Veterinary College

The research and teaching group specialises in the fields of animal welfare, animal behaviour and veterinary ethics and law.
www.rvc.ac.uk/research/facilities-and-resources/animal-welfare-science-and-ethics 


International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The institute works to improve food security and reduce poverty through research for a better and more sustainable use of livestock.
www.ilri.org/ 


Animal Welfare Research Group

The group focuses on the creation of knowledge to understand the behavior of farm animals in relation to the physical and social environment, as well as in relation to humans.
www.nmbu.no/en/research/groups/ethology-and-animal-welfare


Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Etologia e Ecologia Animal (ETCO), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista Campus Jaboticabal

This group specialises in animal behaviour and ecology in the context of farm animal production.
www.grupoetco.org.br/ 


Bienestar Animal Uruguay

A multidisciplinary group of professionals working on research and dissemination of good management practices for production, working and companion animals.
bienestaranimal.org.uy/ 


Programa de Bienestar Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Austral de Chile

The programme aims to develop and manage research projects, train human resources, transfer technology and disseminate up-to-date knowledge on animal welfare, with special emphasis on production and working animal species.
www.bienestaranimal.cl/ 


Animal Welfare Science Centre, Melbourne University, the Ohio State University
and The United States Department of Agriculture

The center is a research collaboration to foster scientific research and teaching capacity in animal welfare science.
www.animalwelfare-science.net/ 


Animal Welfare & Emerging Clinical Topics Research Programme, Utrecht University

This research programme strives to improve the welfare of animals in society, by investigating emotional and cognitive processes that contribute to the adaptive capacities of animals.
www.uu.nl/en/organisation/faculty-of-veterinary-medicine/veterinary-research/veterinary-biomedicine/animal-welfare-emerging-clinical-topics 


Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology (CAWA), Cambridge University

Founded by Prof. em. Donald Broom, the center has developed concepts and methods of scientific assessment of animal welfare in various species and contexts.
www.vet.cam.ac.uk/directory/dmb16 


Animal Welfare Research Network, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol

Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the network aims to bring together the UK animal welfare research community and stakeholders to identify important topics, increase collaboration, and support and encourage research activities.
awrn.co.uk/


Journals & Publications


UFAW, International Animal Welfare Sciences Journal

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare 


Animals, Section Animal Welfare

www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/sections/Animal_Welfare 


CABI, One Health Journal

www.cabidigitallibrary.org/journal/cabioh 


ANAW, Animal Welfare Magazin

www.anaw.org/index.php/resources-and-media-centre/animal-welfare-magazines 


Animal Welfare Library

Website for finding high-quality Animal Welfare Resources
www.animalwelfarelibrary.org