UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science
2022 Award Winner
Professor Jane Hurst
The 2022 winner of the UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science is Professor Jane Hurst.
Professor Hurst is the joint Head of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool. Her research interests include animal scent communication, laboratory animal welfare, humane rodent control, and the interactions between behaviour and disease.
Professor Hurst was nominated for the award to acknowledge her fundamental contribution to understanding rodent behaviour and ecology, particularly that of mice. Through her work, Professor Hurst demonstrated that the traditional method of handling laboratory mice – picking them up by the tail – was stressful, and that two alternative methods (tube and cup handling) were much less stressful. Jane publicised her work in such a way that her handling methods are now in widespread use around the world, transforming the welfare of millions of animals globally.
Furthermore, Jane’s work on scent communication and the social structure of mice offers promise in the development of more humane pest control methods, which could offer a high-welfare alternative to commonly employed inhumane rodent control methods.
Commenting on Professor Hurst’s award Dr Huw Golledge, UFAW’s Chief Executive and Scientific Director said: “Jane’s approach to understanding the basic biology and behaviour of rodents and then applying this knowledge to meet their welfare needs in captivity demonstrates the huge improvements we can make to animal welfare if we use science to understand what animals need and how to provide it. I am delighted that UFAW is recognising Jane’s achievements which are now benefitting the welfare of millions of rodents every year”.
