Event: ‘Dairy Systems – completing the cycle’ (public lecture)
Date: 5pm; Tuesday 23 February
Location: Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Dumfries, DG1 4TA
Dumfries-based dairy researcher Dr Dave Roberts will give his inaugural professorial lecture at Easterbrook Hall on Tuesday 23 February.
The lecture – ‘Dairy Systems – completing the cycle’ will highlight the importance of combining research from different disciplines (for example agriculturalists and geneticists working together) to provide useful information for dairy farmers.
Dr Roberts was awarded his Personal Professorship and given the title Professor of Dairy Farming Systems at SRUC’s graduation ceremony last year. In recognition he will give this public lecture where as well as discussing dairy systems he will also chart his own career path from a farm on the Shropshire/Welsh border to the dairy industry and Scotland’s Rural College.
For Dave, a key part of the journey has been developing and improving knowledge exchange activities. Knowledge exchange (KE) is the process used to transfer information generated through research to those people who need it most, quite often this is farmers but also the general public.
Dave says: “Knowledge exchange must be an integral part of all research. Researchers need to consider the requirements of stakeholders from the very beginning of a project and design a comprehensive KE programme as part of the work. It is vital that those people who could benefit from our work are able to access it easily.”
In addition to his research role Dave Roberts plays a key role in the local community and is Dean of Centre for both SRUC Barony and SRUC Crichton campuses.
His professional standing has been recognised by many prestigious appointments, including President of the British Grassland Society, Fellow of Royal Agricultural Societies, Vice President of RHASS; Council Member of the Royal Association British Dairy Farmers, and Trustee of LEAF (Linking the Environment and Farming).
The lecture will begin at 5pm, but there will also be a free tour of the Crichton Royal Research Farm which will run from 3.30pm from the Visitors’ Centre. The main aim of the Centre is to develop, implement and provide information on sustainable breeding and management systems for dairy cattle. This includes finding ways to improve the health and welfare of UK dairy herds and measuring different systems’ effects on the environment.
Many of those attending may wish to stay on for the annual SRUC /Crichton
Foundation lecture at 7:30pm at the same venue. Professor Colin Campbell of the James Hutton Institute will give this lecture, ‘Soil as the natural capital we all depend on’, as part of the Crichton Conversation Series. To book tickets (cost £5) contact The Crichton Foundation office at [email protected].
If you would like to join the farm tour please contact Anne Bray on 01387 263 961 (email [email protected])
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