UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science
2026 Award Winner
Professor Marina von Keyserlingk
The UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science recognises the exceptional achievements of an individual scientist who has made fundamental contributions to the advancement of animal welfare over a number of years. The award is open to individuals anywhere in the world, whose research, teaching, service and advocacy has significantly benefited the welfare of animals.
The 2026 winner of the UFAW Medal is Professor Marina von Keyserlingk of the University of British Columbia, Canada, where she serves as Professor of Animal Welfare and co-directs UBC’s internationally renowned Animal Welfare Program.
Over the course of her career, Professor von Keyserlingk has made major research contributions to many areas of farm animal welfare, including behaviour, housing and management. She is also one of the first to integrate social science methodologies into animal welfare research to help provide insights into the human dimension of animal welfare. Her research has directly improved the care of dairy cattle on farms worldwide, as well as advancing welfare standards for companion and laboratory animals. Together with her students, post-doctoral fellows and colleagues she has published over 350 peer reviewed scientific papers and is a frequent and enthusiastic speaker for academic and professional audiences around the world.
Her scientific leadership has been widely recognised, most recently through her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada. The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest honours, recognizing people from all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada. She also serves on several national and international animal welfare advisory councils.
Professor von Keyserlingk is also deeply committed to training future scientists, supervising and mentoring students and supporting emerging researchers through international initiatives and undergraduate research opportunities. This commitment was recognised in 2024 when she received the Dr. Suning Wang Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship, Canada's highest honour for the mentorship of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
In response to receiving the award, Professor von Keyserlingk said: “I am truly honoured to receive the UFAW Medal, and deeply grateful to the organisation for this recognition. Animal welfare science has been at the heart of everything I do - from my time growing up on a beef cattle ranch in British Columbia, Canada, to research on farm animal behaviour and housing, to working alongside the next generation of scientists who I know will drive meaningful change in how we care for animals. This award belongs as much to my students, post-doctoral fellows and colleagues as it does to me; none of this work happens in isolation. I hope it also reflects the growing importance of animal welfare science as a field, and the real difference it can make to the lives of animals around the world.”
Commenting on Professor Keyserlingk’s award, Dr Huw Golledge, UFAW Chief Executive, said: “It is a genuine pleasure to award the 2026 UFAW Medal to Professor von Keyserlingk. Her contributions to animal welfare science over more than two decades have been truly exceptional, helping to shape welfare standards that are now applied internationally. What makes Nina's work so significant is that it translates into real, meaningful change on farms and in policy. She is also a remarkable mentor who has invested deeply in the next generation of welfare scientists, and that legacy will extend her impact for years to come. UFAW is proud to recognise her with this medal, and we hope it highlights the vital role that rigorous, applied animal welfare science plays in shaping a more humane world.”
