Staff news

Award for professor’s animal behaviour work

An Edinburgh professor has been recognised for his work on the science on animal behaviour.

Professor Alistair Lawrence is presented with an ISAE award

Professor Alistair Lawrence has been awarded the title of Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE).

Professor Lawrence is Chair of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).

He was awarded the title at the ISAE’s annual Congress in Denmark earlier this month.

International society

The society represents the application of animal behaviour science to better understand how to improve how humans interact with animals.

It provides a forum for the discussion of advances in applied animal behaviour science and education and covers aspects relevant to human-animal interactions. These include farming, wildlife management, the keeping of companion and laboratory animals, and the control of pests.

The Society has an international federal structure as well as regional representatives around the world.

Animal behaviour

After gaining a PhD on sheep social behaviour, Professor Lawrence built a research team focused on the application of animal behaviour to interpret and improve animal welfare in a range of farm species.

He is currently working on understanding the wider effects of positive animal psychology on health and welfare, with a focus on play behaviour and environmental enrichment. 

It is a very great honour to be given this award. It recognises my contribution to applied animal behaviour science and also that of the many colleagues I have worked with at the Easter Bush Campus. Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study animal behaviour and welfare with so much potential to find cross-disciplinary solutions to complex animal welfare issues.

Professor Alistair Lawrence

Related links

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Scotland's Rural College

International Society for Applied Ethology