Lots of opportunities for animal health pros to get involved.
Many animal health professionals take an Introduction to Animal Sciences course early in their coursework. When the conditions are right, an introductory course can serve as a springboard where students find additional opportunities and formalize their interest in the subject. Conversely, an ineffective intro course can demotivate even the sincerest animal science aspirants.
A recent publication In Natural Sciences Education (Link) investigates student interest throughout two iterations of an introductory animal science course. Using latent growth curve modeling, the authors showed that interest followed a course’s narrative progression during one iteration: building throughout the semester, then tapering off near the semester-end. During a second iteration, the analysis showed that interest was somewhat unpredictable–following distinct (and sometimes erratic) paths for different students and student-groups. Overall, the intro course students in this study had very high interest in animal sciences.
Source: Natural Sciences Education, November 11, 2020. Link. This publication reinforces the role of introductory courses in helping budding animal scientists start their careers. As it points out, managing student interest is critical for animal science to welcome more diverse student demographics. For example, firmly-rooted interest can support the performance and persistence of the growing number of students entering animal science with little prior experience in the discipline.
INSIGHTS: As an established animal science professional, how can you help? Research (Link) shows that students build interest through hands-on, collaborative activities, structured reflection and connecting with others in the field. If you’ve made it through your education and into an animal sciences career, consider contacting an animal science department to offer your time as a mentor, contributor or guest speaker for an introductory course. In addition to representing your company and industry, your example may be the spark that motivates a prospective animal scientist to excel in the field.