Grant applications open for student research projects to improve animal welfare

The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) Student Grant Scheme is now open for applications from students looking to conduct short research projects focussing on animal welfare.

The AWF student grant scheme is aimed at undergraduate students in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing, animal welfare studies, agricultural sciences, zoology, and social sciences, giving them a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience in scientific research while deepening their knowledge and understanding of animal welfare.

Funding will be awarded to several projects addressing animal welfare topics relevant to managed animals in the UK, with previous projects receiving grants of between £500 to £5,000. The projects supported by the grant will not only contribute to the student's academic and career development, but also strengthen the evidence base on key animal welfare issues and challenges.

A previous grant recipient, Ellie Miller, who was awarded an AWF student grant in 2022 for her project focusing on pain in calves and decisions around treatment among farmers in the UK, said: “This project was a fantastic opportunity to deepen my understanding of undertaking research and has allowed me to learn more about a topic I am passionate about, developing my understanding about animal welfare issues. I have found the whole experience fascinating and it has made me even more excited about becoming a farm vet.”  Ellie also won the 2023 RCVS “Fellows of the Future” competition with her AWF-funded research project.

Chair of AWF, Julian Kupfer, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with scientific research and gain hands-on experience whilst furthering their understanding of animal welfare.  This will help them to develop essential skills for their professional careers as well as creating valuable evidence and research for the animal welfare sector to reflect upon and learn from.”

This year, funding for the student grant scheme has been made possible by the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good large grant scheme, which has awarded £12,000 to AWF to invest in the student-led projects.  As an independent charity solely funded by public donations, this support is vital in ensuring AWF can continue its work, empowering future animal welfare advocates to tackle key challenges through scientific research.

AWF Manager Erika Singh added: “We are incredibly grateful to the Benefact Group for this generous grant. Robust scientific evidence is needed to address the many welfare issues faced by animals today. This funding ensures we can keep supporting students to make a real difference in addressing the challenges animals face and help build a strong pool of future animal welfare advocates, whose work is rooted in science.”

Since the inception of AWF’s Student Grant Scheme grant in 2016, the foundation has invested more than £85,000 in student research projects, addressing critical animal welfare issues from investigating the use of enrichment feeding with pet dogs to exploring the relationship between habitat biodiversity and donkey welfare. The knowledge generated by these projects feeds directly into improving care standards for managed animals in the UK, addressing real-world welfare challenges.  

The deadline for submissions is Friday, 28 February 2024. For more information on the scheme, including application guidelines, terms and conditions, and FAQs, please visit: https://www.animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk/student-grants/