Science group

The Science Group is a substantial centre of expertise, which provides the evidence that helps enable the RSPCA to advance animal welfare effectively.

Dr. Alastair MacMillan
BVSc MSc PhD MRCVS
RSPCA Chief Scientific Officer

Firm foundation

One of the main strengths of the RSPCA is that it strives to base its policies, activities and approaches to promoting animal welfare firmly on scientific evidence. This gives the organisation substantial credibility with its supporters, the general public and decision-makers, enabling us to advance animal welfare more effectively.

Expert knowledge 

Our Science Group employs approximately twenty-five postgraduate and postdoctoral animal welfare scientists and vets organised into four departments covering farmed, companion, research animals and wildlife.

We aim to be an authority on a wide range of animal welfare science by gathering, assessing and presenting scientific and technical information. Our Science Group provides comprehensive advice internally and externally on hundreds of issues. 

Welfare advocates

We actively engage with policy and decision-makers in government, industry and the wider community, both nationally and internationally, in order to promote practical advances for animal welfare. 

Our work to support the animal welfare activities of the RSPCA is wide ranging and includes for example, the setting of the RSPCA standards for the welfare of farmed animals that underpin the Freedom Food scheme. 

Overview of Science Group activities 

The RSPCA Science Group Review is published annually and highlights the spectrum of activities undertaken by the four departments (companion animals, farm animals, research animals and wildlife) within the Society's science group. Read our latest review, for 2008, published in February 2009:

RSPCA Science Group Review 2008 (2009) (PDF 1.49MB)