Congratulations to Dr. Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk who has been awarded the R.G. Thomson Lecture at The University of Prince Edward Island. The award, in honour of the founding Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, is awarded to an individual active in research, who is an inspiring speaker and an outstanding research scientist.
Nina has been a professor with the UBC Animal Welfare Program since 2002 and an NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare since 2008. Her research and supervision of both undergraduate and graduate student researchers have had a profound impact on the field of animal welfare; it has helped to shape the ways in which animal welfare is practiced on farms. She is also among the first in her field to combine experimental and qualitative methods when addressing animal welfare issues. Together with her students and colleagues she has contributed to hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and is one of the top-cited scholars in her field.
In addition to her research, Nina has mentored numerous graduate students within the UBC Animal Welfare Program as well as undergraduates as they begin their careers in research. She teaches several undergraduate courses including APBI 314: Animals and Society and co-teaching APBI 398: Research Methods in Applied Biology. She is also an enthusiastic mentor for undergraduate students interested in pursuing research, including those enrolled in APBI 499 – Undergraduate thesis – under her supervision; many of her undergraduate thesis students have gone onto to publish their work.
Nina is also the recipient of the 2018 Hans Sigrist Research Prize for her outstanding contributions to the sustainability of food animal systems, the 2018 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Award for Extension, the 2016 World Buiatrics Award for outstanding contributions to the field of ruminant well-being, the 2013 ADSA Award for Excellence in Dairy Science, the 2013 Metacam Bovine Welfare Award, the 2012 Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension & Public Service, and the 2022 and 2008, Killam Teaching Award in recognition for excellence in teaching,
This year Nina will be celebrating 20 years as a co-leader of the UBC Animal Welfare Program and we are very fortunate to have her with us. Congratulations Nina!