University of Nottingham United Kingdom
The University of Nottingham co-leads WP1 and plays a central role in stakeholder engagement, qualitative research, and behavioural insights throughout the project. The team will facilitate interviews, focus groups, and workshops in the UK while contributing to legislative analysis, pilot studies, and dissemination activities. Nottingham’s expertise in farmer–veterinarian relationships and biosecurity behaviour will support the development of a practical, farmer-informed framework for improving biosecurity on non-intensive farms.
Tasks: Qualitative research, behavioural insights, stakeholder workshops
Lead: Dr Marnie Brennan
Role: Co-lead WP1
Funder
Department for environment, Food and Rural Affairs: DEFRA is the UK Government department responsible for safeguarding the environment, supporting food and farming and sustaining the rural economy.
Marnie Brennan
Associate Professor in Epidemiology. Dr Marnie Brennan is a veterinary researcher-educator based at the University of Nottingham, with further qualifications in epidemiology (ECVPH Diplomate; RCVS Specialist). Marnie has worked in private veterinary practice and for the government in Australia and the UK. Her cross-sector background is reflected in the research she carries out, specifically focused on preventive medicine (vaccination and biosecurity) across a range of animal species (e.g. cattle, sheep, equids, dogs, cats, fish) and evidence-based veterinary medicine. She has an interest in a range of stakeholder engagement methodologies (e.g. consensus methods) and other quantitative and qualitative approaches (e.g. questionnaire, interview, and text based analyses).
Marnie leads the Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine, a unique research and knowledge exchange initiative focused on conducting research of relevance for clinical practice whilst providing training and resources for pre- and post-registration veterinary professionals and other groups (farmers/owners, industry).
Hugh Williamson
Dr Hugh Williamson is a Research Fellow in the BIOFRAME project. Hugh is a qualitative and interdisciplinary social scientist, originally trained in sociocultural anthropology and using a range of methods including ethnography, interviews and focus groups. His work investigates the relationship between knowledge and practice in farming, veterinary medicine and the agricultural biosciences, with the aim of shaping scientific research, technology development and policy interventions towards stakeholder needs and circumstances. Prior to working on BIOFRAME, Hugh has conducted a range of stakeholder engagement research and provided recommendations on topics including data governance and digital technology development in animal farming (especially British sheep breeding) and in plant biology and crop breeding. He has also conducted research on rural social change in Transylvania, Romania.