UFAW Centenary Conference 2026

UFAW Centenary Conference 2026

As UFAW celebrates its centenary in 2026, we invite you to join us as we return to our roots at the University of London for our 3-day event exploring the latest animal welfare science and reflecting on the state of animal welfare as a scientific discipline. 

As well as the very latest developments in animal welfare science, this year’s conference will feature 3 symposia which critically evaluate animal welfare science in 2026 and look to its future: 

Animal Welfare Science: Past, Present, and Future 

From the very start, UFAW has championed the use of science to improve animal welfare. Indeed, there is a strong argument that UFAW and its founder, Major Charles Hume, invented the very term “animal welfare science”. UFAW certainly played a pivotal role in establishing animal welfare as a scientific discipline. In this symposium, historians and animal welfare scientists will look back at the genesis of animal welfare science, its status as a fully-fledged academic discipline, and where animal welfare science may go in the future.

How can we make animaI welfare research more replicable? 

The impact of any science is only as robust as the quality of evidence produced. For a science like animal welfare, this is a critical issue as policy and practice must be built on reliable evidence to allow real-world improvement in animal welfare. This symposium will examine the problems associated with poor replicability of research results, specifically focusing on animal welfare science, and what measures can be taken to improve the situation. The presentations and interactive discussion will be relevant for researchers – those just starting their careers, and more experienced scientists, who serve as supervisors and reviewers of funding applications and scientific manuscripts – as well as for policy makers and other users of animal welfare knowledge.  

Assessing Animal Welfare 

Following publication of the latest book in the UFAW Animal Welfare series, Assessing Animal Welfare – a guide to the valid use of indicators of affective states (edited by Georgia Mason, Birte Nielsen and Mike Mendl), this symposium will explore the latest thinking on how we can move closer to the holy grail of animal welfare science, reliably assessing the affective state of animals by using and measuring valid indicators. 

Social events

There will be a drinks reception for all those attending in person on the evening of the 23 June, and a gala networking event on 24 June offering opportunities for networking and socialising. 

UFAW Centenary Conference 2026