ALISTAIR
LAWRENCE
I
was born in 1954 into a farming family in Perthshire, Scotland.
After my school education I went to St Andrews University to study
Zoology. Following this I moved to the University of Edinburgh initially
to take a short one year diploma on Animal Science, and then to study
for a PhD under Professor David Wood- Gush.
The
topic of my PhD was the social organization of extensive hill sheep.
Following my PhD I was employed for around 18 months as Research Assistant
to The Principal of the School of Agriculture during which time I
co-authored a number of reviews on topical Animal Science issues.
I was then employed as a research scientist in the field of animal
behaviour and welfare. During the early phase of my post-doctoral
research career I developed interests in causes of stereotypies in
farm animals, measurement of hunger, and behavioural and physiological
methods of assessing welfare. Currently I am Head of SAC's Animal
Behaviour and Welfare Department which covers a range of topics relating
to genetic and environmental influences on adaptive behaviours including
neonatal, maternal and aggressive behaviours, and also to welfare
assessment both under experimental and on-farm conditions.
In
addition to these research activities I have personal interest in
the teaching of behaviour and welfare to both vocational and degree
level students. I am a member of the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council
and have a personal chair from SAC awarded in 1999.
