Funding Available to Support Research into Human-Animal Relationships

The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) is delighted to announce a three-year funding programme to enable research that furthers our understanding of the human-animal bond. Applications are open now and close on 31 March 2020.

Research that focuses on animal assisted interventions (particularly with children), the human-companion animal relationship and cross-disciplinary working will be prioritised. However, projects that look at companion animal loss and the bond-centred veterinary practice will also be considered, as will those that consider children, older people or people with diverse needs and their relationship with companion animals.
SCAS Chairman, Dr Elizabeth Ormerod, said “Human-animal bonds are dynamic relationships between people and animals. They are usually symbiotic, providing psychological and physical benefits to both parties. Research projects, such as those we will be funding, are essential to add to the growing evidence base which can be key to encouraging such relationships, and also to supporting these if under challenge”.

This year’s funding will consist of 5 x 10k maximum pump priming research awards, 2 x 1.5k undergraduate student project awards and a 1.5k maximum award to support open access publication.

Full information on the available funding and details on how to apply, can be found at www.scas.org.uk