Held annually, the event forms part of the second-year Harper & Keele Veterinary School (HKVS) Animal Health Sciences module which integrates subjects including infectious diseases, diagnostics and molecular biology. Students research the role of vets in specific topics, such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and the management of disease outbreaks, presenting their findings as a research poster.
Vet School staff and industry colleagues were invited to the event to hear oral presentations of the posters, with marks awarded for design, content, and communication. This year, RUMA has sponsored several prizes, including one for the poster receiving the highest academic mark and three industry choice awards.
Laura Helm’s poster was awarded the highest academic mark, Laura said: “The poster topic that I chose was avian influenza, and the impact of the 2021 outbreak, specifically on animal welfare, food security, and the economy. I explored potential future issues caused by virus mutation and the role of a vet in reducing the severity of an outbreak and mediating the potential public health risk.
“The module has opened my eyes to the impact of agriculture on the whole country, and the role that we, as vets, can play to support this industry.”
Following the event, several HKVS students have been selected to showcase their work on the RUMA Agri website and across its social channels to help champion the responsible use of medicines in agriculture. Further information will be published about these case studies in due course.
Professor Matt Jones, Head of the Harper & Keele Veterinary School, said: “We’re delighted to work with RUMA again this year.
“Their support and sponsorship is particularly appropriate with many of the posters focusing on the critical role of vets in encouraging a one health approach. What’s particularly striking is that our second-year students are already integrating and applying key knowledge to offer impactful solutions to challenges faced by the veterinary profession and related industries.”
RUMA Secretary General, Chris Lloyd, said: “RUMA is pleased to support the Harper & Keele second year vet student poster project and the showcase event, which provided a platform for students to share their posters and ideas. It is a chance to engage with the vets of the future and a great project to challenge not just our understanding of the veterinary science behind an issue, but how to communicate it to an audience.”