Queen’s hosts international early-career researchers in animal health
IGFS and the School of Biological Sciences hosted an international delegation of early-career researchers as part of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SVEPM) annual conference, taking place in Belfast.
The Young Scientists Event was hosted by past-president of the British Veterinary Association, Dr Simon Doherty, now senior lecturer at the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) and the School of Biological Sciences (SBS); and Dr Gareth Arnott, senior lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Research within IGFS & SBS.
The group was welcomed by Dr Arnott and listened to a talk by Dr Doherty on his varied career in veterinary practice, academic research, One Health and sustainability. The students were also given a walk-through of the Biological Sciences building, where SBS and IGFS are based.
A number of PhD students from Queen’s studying animal health did ‘elevator pitch’ style presentations of their research and answered questions from the visiting students. The whole group then enjoyed a social reception where they could network.
Dr Doherty said the idea for the Young Scientist Event came about during a conversation with the Chair of the SVEPM Conference Local Organising Committee, Dr Fraser Menzies who is a veterinary epidemiologist in DAERA. "About a year ago, Fraser mentioned to me that the SVEPM Conference was coming to Belfast and invited me to give an 'inspirational talk' about my journey to some of the early-career delegates!," Dr Doherty explained.
"I suggested that it would be great to have them up to visit Queen's and perhaps have the opportunity to chat to a few of our own students in the Institute and School."
Dr Arnott added: "It's brilliant to see another international animal-health event of the calibre and scale of the SVEPM Annual Conference coming to Northern Ireland. At Queen's, we're very proud of our legacy of world-class excellence in teaching and research in agricultural and veterinary disciplines and tonight's event provided a platform to showcase a snapshot of our current work in livestock health and welfare to the SVEPM delegates. We were delighted to be able to support the conference in this way.
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For further info contact u.bradley@qub.ac.uk