Registration open for animal welfare symposium

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Online registration for a symposium dedicated to animal welfare education and research is now open.

The AVMA and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges will host the 2009 Joint International Educational Symposium on Animal Welfare Nov. 9-11 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Michigan State University, East Lansing. Organizers hope to provide an opportunity for veterinarians, educators, researchers, veterinary students, and others interested in animal welfare-related education and research to learn from and network with experts in the field during the event.

The agenda for the symposium, "Swimming with the Tide: Animal Welfare in Veterinary Medical Education and Research," is available on the AVMA Web site at avma.org/awsymposium by clicking on the "Agenda" link.

Speakers from across the globe will touch on topics such as the way frameworks for animal welfare decisions are created by science, ethics, societal norms, and stakeholder engagement. The creation of successful educational and research environments that help veterinarians contribute to effective solutions for animal welfare problems will also be discussed. So will the history and current state of animal welfare education and research in the U.S. and internationally.

Among confirmed international speakers are Dr. David Bayvel, chair of The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Animal Welfare Working Group, and Dr. Nestor Tadich, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Universidad Austral de Chile. Speakers from the U.S. include a former AVMA president and Texas A&M University professor, Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver, who will talk about post-DVM education regarding animal welfare. AVMA Executive Board member and Michigan State University professor, Dr. Janver Krehbiel, will discuss the AAVMC's Foresight Report and the implications for animal welfare that arise from the report's references to centers of excellence and tracking in the curriculum. Also, former Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado will speak about grassroots efforts, running for office, and the news media, in relation to advocacy.

The event will include a poster session to facilitate networking and information sharing among attendees.