Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Public Policy

Dr Keith Howe, Senior Research Fellow in the CRPR, has received an Award for Excellence 2018 from the Agricultural Economics Society (AES) for his outstanding contribution to teaching and public policy. In particular, the award is in recognition of his engagement with students at all levels including the often-challenging teaching of economics to non-specialist students. For many years he has been at the forefront of bridging the gap between economists and vets, initially when economists paid scant attention to animal health and welfare issues – and vets were wary of economists.

With the growing importance of animal health and welfare issues in domestic and trade policy, Keith’s pioneering work led to his election as a President of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and he was made a Life Member in 2008. He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in recognition of his valuable contributions. In 2016 he was instrumental in helping to establish the International Society for Economics and Social Sciences of Animal Health.

The AES citation records that Keith’s contribution to teaching and public policy flows from his dedication, expertise and enthusiasm for agricultural economics and, as a colleague who has branched out and fully engaged with other disciplines, he is a fine representative for the future focus of agricultural economists, and is a worthy recipient of the Society Award.