Prof Susan Michie will deliver the 56th Wooldridge Memorial Lecture.

Professor Susan Michie, an academic and expert in human behaviour change, will deliver the 56th Wooldridge Memorial Lecture, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has announced.

The lecture, ‘People Power: how changing human behaviour can improve animal welfare’, will be given during London Vet Show. The talk will take place at 11am on Friday, 17 November in the BVA Congress Theatre.

A professor of health psychology and director of the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London, Prof Michie will discuss some of the problems seen by veterinary surgeons which are unknowingly caused by humans and could be prevented through changes in human behaviour.

In the course of her talk, she will address issues such as buying or breeding brachycephalic and dangerous dogs, antimicrobial awareness, and obesity.

Prof Michie said: “There is a science of behaviour and behaviour change that should be drawn on in tackling the many animal health and welfare problems that are often caused or exacerbated by human behaviour and can be solved or reduced by enabling change.

“Common-sense approaches are often ineffective and can even make things worse; evidence-based techniques are available. It has been fascinating considering this research in relation to the veterinary profession and I look forward to discussing this in-depth at BVA Congress.”

The annual Wooldridge Memorial Lecture is named after veterinary researcher and politician Dr W R Wooldridge and was first delivered at BVA Congress in 1967.

BVA president Anna Judson added: “All animals are likely to become ill or suffer an injury at some point but it is particularly heartbreaking when, with the right knowledge, it could have been prevented.

“It can lead to difficult conversations between vets, farmers and animal owners but Professor Michie’s lecture will discuss ways in which such consultations can be approached, to provide tools which can increase the chances of a positive change in the future.”

Image (C) BVA