Co-hosted by the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) Behavioral Welfare Group and the Michigan Society for Medical Research (MISMR), the Fifth Annual Science of Enrichment Symposium is a FREE two-day virtual event designed to engage laboratory animal staff and research investigators in the science of environmental enrichment for animals used in biomedical research.
This year’s Symposium will take place on Wednesday, September 29, and Thursday, September 30, from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST each day.
All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar and will focus on evidence-based recommendations for enrichment best practice(s) featuring speakers from academia, government, and industry with expertise in rodents, reptiles, pigs, exotic animals, and NHPs.
Speaking Sessions
| TIME** | SESSION & SPEAKER |
|---|---|
| 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM | Non-Aversive Handling of Mice presented by Mark Prescott, PhD, Director of Policy and Outreach, NC3Rs; Elizabeth Nunamaker, PhD, DVM, DACLAM, DACAW, Director of Animal Welfare, Charles River Laboratories; Megan LaFollette, PhD, Program Manager, NA3RsC; & Erin Straley, MS, Associate Director, Animal Sciences and Technologies, AstraZeneca |
| 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | The American Association for Laboratory Animal Enrichment (AALAE) presented by Kristina Bartley, BSc, MSc, CLABP, Behavior Management and Enrichment Program Manager, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
| 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | How to Build a Successful Enrichment Program presented by Candace Hedrick, BS, Enrichment Program Coordinator, The Ohio State University |
| 2:25 PM – 3:00 PM | The Effects of Enrichment on Health: What are the Implications for Standard Cages? presented by Georgia Mason, PhD, Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph |
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Swine Training Program Enhances Animal Welfare and Research Efficiency presented by Fernando “Freddy” De La Garza, Behavior Management / Project Specialist, BD |
**All session times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
| TIME** | SESSION & SPEAKER |
|---|---|
| 12:10 PM – 12:30 PM | The Environmental Preferences of Laboratory Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Their Effects on Survival presented by Michelle Lavery, PhD Candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Behavior and Welfare in a Common Laboratory Animal, the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) presented by Cairsty DePasquale, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology, Penn State Altoona |
| 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Poultry Welfare presented by Megan Lighty, DVM, PhD, DACPV, Avian Diagnostic and Outreach Veterinarian, Penn State University |
| 2:10 PM – 3:10 PM | Rhesus Macaque Social Introductions presented by Allison Heagerty, PhD, Social Housing Coordinator, Oregon Health and Science University |
| 3:10 PM – 3:50 PM | Mini Sessions in Mouse Welfare
|
**All session times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Individual sessions may be recorded at the speaker’s discretion. Recordings of select sessions will be made available to registrants for approximately 30 days after the event. Please email brinsonk@umich.edu for additional questions about session recordings.
Registration Information
There is no registration fee for this all-virtual event. However, attendees must pre-register for each session. Login information will be sent to registrants via email closer to the Symposium dates. If you are a person with a disability who requires accommodations to attend the Symposium or have questions about accessibility, please contact us at brinsonk@umich.edu.
Note that event registration will close on Friday, September 24 at approximately 5:00 PM EST.
Continuing Education Credit
Technicians certified through AALAS will be eligible for CE credits. CE certificates will be provided within one month (30 business days) of the Symposium’s conclusion.
Questions?
- If you have any questions about this event, please contact ULAM Faculty Veterinarian Tara Martin, DVM, at taramar@umich.edu.
- For registration questions, please contact Kadi Brinson in the ULAM Business Office at brinsonk@umich.edu.