WPSA-UK Branch News

Membership

Unfortunately there is little positive news with regards to membership. We have had 3 more resignations since the last Newsletter with just one new member despite a number of inquires regarding membership. It is of the utmost importance that we try to turn this trend around in order to maintain the status of our Branch in the worldwide platform. May I therefore ask you to seek out potential new recruits for WPSA UK Branch. In particular, those in Academia should encourage their students to join our numbers as there are a number of benefits afforded to them by doing so.

WPSA-UK Branch Annual Meeting
31st March – 1st April 2009

The annual Meeting and AGM are two major events in our Branch Calendar. For 2009, we can anticipate an exciting mix of scientific and industry-based sessions. This meeting also provides a great opportunity for networking through our social events. We are returning to the Floral Hall in Southport in 2009 where we will as usual be partnered by BSAS.

Programme

At the time of going to press, the exact programme details are not available but we do expect to follow a similar pattern to previous years with the meeting commencing on Tuesday 31st March following the BSAS Hammond Lecture. We are anticipating some busy original communication sessions as over 100 abstract were submitted before our new deadline.

Our industry led session is entitled ‘Conflicts between consumer requirements and food security’ and is set to produce some lively discussion.

The Gordon Memorial Lecture shall be delivered by Professor Richard C. Jones from the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool and shall address the issue of viral respiratory disease in poultry followed by a reception at the Floral Hall. This shall be proceeded by the Branch Annual Dinner which shall be hosted at the Royal Clifton Hotel. This makes the Royal Clifton the ideal location for those attending the meeting to stay.
Full details of the WPSA-UK Branch Annual Meeting will be published in the Programme and Application Form that will be sent to all members early next year.

UFAW Scholarship Awards

UFAW (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare and Humane Slaughter Association) are now inviting applications for a number of award schemes including; UFAW Vacation Scholarship Awards, the UFAW Companion Animal Welfare Award and the HSA Dorothy Sidley Award. The aim of these schemes is to encourage students to develop their interests in animal welfare science by providing an opportunity to undertake research in this field. Students will usually be undertaking agricultural, biological, medical veterinary or zoological sciences. Application forms and further information are available from the ‘grants and awards’ page of the UFAW website :
www.ufaw.org.uk