Cynthia Naydani

Teaching Fellow in Planetary Health and One Welfare

Biography

Background

I am an ecologist turned animal welfare scientist with a fondness for data science and a passion for making information accessible to those who can use it to better the lives of their animals. My experience in both academia and industry is extensive and varied, ranging from living in the Belizean jungle, studying the behavioural ecology of wild monkeys, to owning a SCUBA diving school and yoga studio in Thailand. I combine inspiration from my international experiences with knowledge gleaned from my interests in pedagogy and human behaviour change to design and deliver educational experiences that are accessible, engaging, and impactful. My current research interests are broad, though consistently rooted in the interconnection of animals (human and non-human), with each other and to our planet. I aim to explore innovative solutions towards the improvement of animal welfare and planetary health, while inspiring future generations to overcome the challenges they inherit.

I am Programme co-Coordinator for the MSc in Planetary Health, and teach on a range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These include:

  • Introduction to Planetary Health
  • Planetary Health Data
  • Mental Health in the Anthropocene
  • Professional Skills for Global Agri-Food Scientists
  • Equine Behaviour, Ethics, and Welfare
  • Stewardship of the Equine Environment (University of Guelph)

I have received the Edinburgh Teaching Award, and am a Fellow in the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). 

Qualifications

  • Current PhD researcher in Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh (see 'Research' below for project details)
  • MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (Distinction), University of Edinburgh
  • Equine Welfare Certificate (Distinction), University of Guelph
  • Equine Science Certificate (Distinction), University of Guelph
  • Diploma in Equine Studies (Distinction), University of Guelph
  • BSc in Ecology (1st Class Honours), University of Calgary
  • BSc in Primatology (1st Class Honours), University of Calgary

Current research interests

PhD Thesis title: "Investigating the Human Behaviour Change impacts of animal welfare interventions: How does a consideration for animal welfare contribute towards healthy people and a healthy planet?" The overarching aim of this project is to investigate if and how the uptake of animal welfare assessment affects its users, regarding perceptions of their own wellbeing (including food security and livelihoods), their relationships with their animals, and their self-directed actions that impact planetary health. The inter-disciplinary nature of this project encompasses elements of animal welfare science, Human Behaviour Change (HBC), pedagogy, and psychology. This project will establish a framework by which behaviour change interventions can be designed, delivered, and tested. Within the context of this research, the interventions are those focused on facilitating the uptake of animal welfare assessment/education among keepers of livestock and working animals. However, the resulting framework is expected to be applicable to a wide range of behaviour change interventions, from improving dietary choices, to mitigating climate change impacts. Supervisory Team: Dr Susan Jarvis (Global Academy), Prof Françoise Wemelsfelder (SRUC), Dr Rebecca Doyle (JMICAWE)
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