Causing a Flap: chicken-based research to inform industry, education & human well-being

The initial media reaction to our AHRC-funded research was scathing: we “caused a flap”. Yet our work on the 'Cultural and Scientific Perceptions of Human-Chicken Interactions' and our GCRF 'Going Places' projects has demonstrated that chickens are fundamentally important, in differing ways, for diverse segments of society.

This final free event integrates the results of all our research to reveal the economic, social and cultural impact of chickens through time and space. What do these results mean for the future of human-animal-environmental well-being? Come find out!

11am: Registration, Welcome and Tea/Coffee

11.30: Poultry Production: Past, Present and Future

Our researchers will present results from our work into chicken health and productivity through time. The culmination of several research projects, this includes information on genomics, feeding regimes, egg and meat yield, and the potential of chicken production in developing countries. With a guest talk from Prof. Nicola Williams concerning drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance in the poultry production chain this session offers deep-time perspective on this important bird.

1pm: Lunch

2pm: Bird Brain! Learning with Chickens

Chickens are more central to human life, well-being and culture than many would recognise. As such they represent the perfect focus for educational resources that span the arts, humanities and sciences. Over the last five years our teams have been working with educators to develop teaching and learning resources for use in different educational environments: schools, museums, and industry outreach. The team will present their work and encourage discussions about how these resources might be rolled out to new partners

4pm: Tea/Coffee and Chicken Chat

During this session outreach and engagement materials developed for multiple audiences will be displayed and discussed, including art and objects of Ethiopian culture. This session will also offer the opportunity to discuss creation of additional educational resources with an industry focus.

5.30pm: Wine Reception

5.45pm: Film screening “Transforming Lives”. 30-minute documentary by Dani Giddins


Hosted by AHRC Funded Causing a Flap project; follow on to the AHRC funded “Cultural and Scientific perceptions of Human-Chicken Interactions” and the AHRC/GCRF-funded “Going Places: Empowering Women, Enhancing Heritage and Increasing Chicken production in Ethiopia” projects.