Spring 2003 Newsletter : WPSA UK Branch Annual Meeting and AGM

University of York, 25 & 26 March 2003

The excellent campus facilities of the University of York have provided the venue for the last two year's Branch Annual Meetings and we are returning there for 2003. Those who attended the previous events will know that it is a very conveniently situated venue, ideal for our purposes and, once again, we will be joining both BSAS and ISAE, whose annual meetings run concurrently with our own. Last year 120 members and visitors registered for the WPSA meeting and we hope for another increase in 2003.

You will, by now, have received the full Programme and Application Form for the Meeting which introduces a slight change in format. This year each of the four main themed sessions will commence with an invited paper followed by four submitted papers. These will commence at 11am on Tuesday 25 March with a session on Bird Welfare. After lunch, the afternoon session features aspects of Nutrition and is followed by a discussion on the posters which will be on display throughout the Meeting. 

The 2003 Gordon Memorial Lecture will take place at 5pm, when Professor Grahame Bulfield, recently retired as Director of Roslin Institute and now of the University of Edinburgh will speak on "Poultry breeding in the post-genomics era". This will be followed by the Gordon Memorial Reception and then, at 8pm, by the WPSA UK Branch Annual Dinner. This is always a pleasurable occasion, not to be missed, and this year we hope to be joined by Dr Peter Hunton, WPSA President, who will be present throughout the Meeting.

WPSA (UK Branch) AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Branch will take place at 8.45 am on Wednesday 26 March in Room L001 of the Exhibition Centre. This is an important event in the Branch's year and is your opportunity to contribute your views to the running of the Branch. A number of new initiatives have been introduced this year and ideas are always welcome to help us to remain an attractive and vibrant association. This year we have a new Treasurer and two Council Members to elect. You will also be receiving full details of the arrangements for the 27th Poultry Science Symposium to be held in Bristol in July 2003 "The welfare of the laying hen". Please come along to the AGM, early as it is in the morning, and be involved in the running of the Branch.  

Final papers and posters

The final morning of the meeting includes two further sessions, the first on Enzymes and the last on aspects of Broiler Production. 
We have an excellent selection of papers and posters once again this year. The Programme Committee, under its Chairman Dr Paul Rose, now need the support of the membership, which they undoubtedly deserve.