There are many people who make up the Animal Welfare Program – students, alumni, faculty, partners and staff, including many undergraduate students who take on important roles supporting research and program activities. We would like to introduce you to Lauren Clarke, a current Work Learn student who has been supporting the program in many ways over the past three years. If you are a UBC student interested in Work Learn opportunities, check out Careers Online.
I am a fourth-year student currently studying Applied Animal Biology. I was originally drawn to the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and the APBI degree specifically, because I have always been interested in animal health and welfare. In my position as a Work Learn AWP Program Assistant I have worked on a wide selection of different things that support research like coding videos that asses different aspects of animal behaviour in a number of species and working hands on with animals in a mouse enrichment welfare study where I have gained experience handling animals and conducting experimental trials. I have also been involved in communicating the work done by the AWP group, including creating posts for the website highlighting newsworthy research and researchers, assembling social media posts, and collecting details on publications.
Through my time working with the Animal Welfare Program I have learned a lot about what goes into animal research and have realized how much bigger the field is than I previously thought. I have really enjoyed learning about the different types of studies that are ongoing in a variety of areas from dairy to companion animals to wildlife and seeing how innovative and creative the work is! Through observing the research being done in the AWP I have gained a better understanding of not only what goes into conducting animal research, but also the types of problems faced by animals in our society.
In combination with what I have learned in my classes focused on animal biology and welfare, I hope to use the experiences I have had with the AWP and I would love to continue working to advocate for animals in the future. I am particularly interested in a range of topics that I hope to learn more about and possibly continue to work on including the coexistence of humans and wildlife in BC, as well as welfare issues faced by companion animals. There are so many interesting experiences available in animal welfare it is difficult to choose just one!
My work learn position with the Animal Welfare Program has been one of my favourite experiences I have had during my undergrad at UBC. It is a great way to gain experience in a field you might be interested in and to make connections with people who can help you explore all the opportunities that are available to you. I would recommend that anyone interested in animal welfare in their undergrad who may be looking for ways to learn more about research look into a work learn position. It is a great way to meet people in a similar field, gain relevant experience and learn about noteworthy issues in the industry!