Animal Welfare Research Group
About us
Animal Welfare has a distinguished history and track record at the University of Winchester. For seven years, the successful Centre for Animal Welfare showcased our academics' and students' knowledge, skills and impact across multiple disciplines. Founded by Professor Andrew Knight, the Centre for Animal Welfare was established to push boundaries, be avant-garde and challenge the status quo of animal welfare. Out of the legacy of CAW has come a new and evolving research group, dedicated to the study of Animal Welfare, Behaviour, Ethics and Law (AWBEL).
AWBEL comprises a world-leading team of multidisciplinary specialists from natural sciences, psychology, forensic science and philosophy. We have particular expertise and research interests in the ethics and policy of animal protection, the impact of Brexit on animal protection, zoo welfare assessment, the health and environmental implications of pet food production, and the interplay between cognition, environmental enrichment, welfare and conservation.
Through our teaching, research, partnerships, public engagement and advocacy, we work tirelessly to advance the welfare of animals worldwide, from companion animals and farmed animals to zoo-housed and wild animals. Not only do we explore the interface between conservation biology and animal welfare via scientific investigation, we also lobby politicians and others to raise the status of animals in global human society, advocating respect for humans, animals and the planet alike.
Study options
Discover our Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses
Our MSc and BSc courses are based in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, while our BA course is offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Meet the team
Academic staff
Dr Lisa Riley, Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and AWRG Lead
Dr Steven McCulloch, Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Studies
Dr Amoret Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Studies
Dr Hazel Brown, Head of School of Sport, Health and Community
Dr Liam Satchell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Dr Adalinda Hernandez, Lecturer in Animal Welfare
Dr Adrian Whyte, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Associate lecturers
Jenny Mace; find out more about Jenny
Research students
Current
Rebecca Hammerton: 'Keeper perceptions of captive primate diets: nutritional and welfare perspectives'
Elizabeth Roe: 'Breeding Success and Welfare in Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis): Wild and Captive Perspectives'
Recent completions
Pam Adams-Wright: 'An investigation into why post-weaning stereotypical pacing develops in red squirrel kittens at Wildwood Escot and Wildwood Kent'
Catherine Farren: 'Human-animal relationships: the impact of cultural attitudes on companion animal welfare needs in India, Thailand and Malawi’
Nia Parry-Howells: 'The impacts of prior life experiences on the welfare of captive primates'