The use of animal subjects in research is a controversial topic, balancing potential benefits to human health with humane treatment. A guest speaker will address such issues in an upcoming lecture at West Virginia University.

Dr. Janice Swanson, professor and director of animal welfare at Michigan State University, will present the 2009 John B. Peters Memorial Lecture on “The Role of the FASS Guide in Assuring Humane Animal Care” at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, in room 1001 of the Agricultural Sciences Building on WVU’s Evansdale Campus.

Swanson is a member and past chair of the Federation of Animal Science Societies Scientific Committee on Animal Care and Use Standards responsible for the development of the animal worker training modules. Currently she is co-chair of the second revision of the FASS Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals used in Agricultural Research and Teaching.

Swanson’s responsibilities at MSU include developing outreach in the area of social responsibility with respect to animal agriculture and the food system; providing leadership on animal welfare by integrating scientific principles, concepts and issues into the curriculum and outreach programs; facilitating and participating in research on issues of priority on food animal well-being; providing expertise and service to Michigan stakeholders on initiatives that relate to animal care and welfare and public policy; and providing leadership at the national and international level on issues concerning food animal welfare.

The memorial lecture honors John Burl Peters. Peters joined WVU’s faculty in 1971 to take part in the Allegheny Highlands Project. In 1977, he joined the faculty of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design in the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences while also serving as livestock specialist with WVU Extension. He died in 1980. His friends and family established the John Peters Memorial Fund through the WVU Foundation to carry on his work, bringing new information to farmers, students and faculty.

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dw/12/29/09

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