Associate Professor Robyn Alders
BSc(Vet), BVSc, DipVetClinStud, PhD
Principal Research Fellow
C01A - Jl Shute - Camden
The University of Sydney
| Telephone | +61-2-9351 1671 |
| Fax | +61-2-9351 1618 |
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Food security in Africa Family chook farms Newcastle disease control |
Biographical details
For over 20 years, Robyn has worked closely with smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia as a veterinarian, researcher and colleague. For much of this time, she has been working on the development of sustainable Newcastle disease (ND) control in poultry in rural areas as this disease is a key constraint to small livestock producers, many of whom own only poultry. The ND control activities have included project management; epidemiology; production and quality control of thermotolerant ND vaccine; development and testing of innovative extension materials; community development; incorporating ethnoveterinary knowledge; training of extension personnel, animal health workers, livestock officers and laboratory personnel; and the development of user-pays schemes. Since 2004, Robyn has been involved with HPAI control and preparedness in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. In Indonesia, she oversaw the training and communication components of the FAO HPAI Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response Program from May 2007 to September 2009. From May 2008 to June 2011, Robyn directed the International Veterinary Medicine Program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in the USA and remains an Adjunct Associate Professor with this program. From July 2011 to May 2012, Robyn was the Team Leader of a Newcastle disease control project in Angola implemented by the KYEEMA Foundation and funded by the European Union. In August 2012, she rejoined the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney as a Principal Research Fellow to lead a new project titled “Strengthening food security through family poultry and crop integration in Eastern and Southern Africa”. It is funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Australian International Food Security Centre.
In addition to technical issues relating to livestock production, Robyn recognises the important role of socio-economic issues, including gender, in sustainable livestock development programs. She has a practical understanding of the role of livestock in HIV/AIDS mitigation and conservation agriculture. She is a non-salaried Director of the International Rural Poultry Centre within the KYEEMA Foundation.
Robyn’s work and the new project have attracted media attention recently. The first link below includes a short presentation by Robyn as part of the Australian International Food Security Centre and International Livestock Research Institute nutrition workshop in September 2012, in which Robyn and project team member Associate Professor Mu Li participated.
http://www.ilri.org/ilrinews/index.php/archives/9468
A recent ABC Bush Telegraph interview given by Robyn
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2012/s3571576.htm
ABC Rural News interview given by Robyn
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201208/s3563987.htm
Presentation at Development Policy Centre, ANU given by Robyn
http://crawford.anu.edu.au/events/content/video/?year=2012&id=2452
Vaccine for Newcastle Disease in Village Poultry Transforms the Lives of African Farmers - Article and Video
In July 2013, the Crawford Fund worked with ACIAR to produce a video on the impact of ND vaccine on the lives of villagers in Singida district. Sally Ingleton, the producer of the video, kindly put together a short video using the bits of my interview that were not included in the ND video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-rI5rYrGgM
Research interests
Robyn believes that livestock research can directly contribute to ecologically sustainable development and improved livelihoods for rural communities both in Australia and internationally.
Teaching and supervision
International livestock and One Health research scientist
Awards and honours
During her career, Robyn has had the fortune to receive a number of awards for her research and development activities including:
- the Kesteven Medal, awarded by the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in recognition of distinguished contributions to international veterinary science in the field of technical and scientific assistance to developing countries. May 2002;
- the Belle Bruce Reid Medal, awarded by the University of Melbourne to outstanding women Veterinary Scientists. November 2006;
- becoming the first female Veterinary Science graduate Officer of the Order of Australia by the Governor General of Australia for distinguished service to veterinary science as a researcher and educator, to the maintenance of food security in developing countries through livestock management and disease control programs. January 2011;
- the University of Sydney 2011 Alumni Award for International Achievement. May 2011; and
- The Wesley College Foundation Medal, September 2012.
Selected grants
2012
- Strengthening food security through family poultry and crop integration in Eastern and Southern Africa; Li M, Mor S, Farrell P, Alders R; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIARC)/Research and Development Programs.
Selected publications
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Controlling Newcastle Disease in Village Chickens (Australian Government,2012)
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