Pru Hobson-West
Lecturer in welfare, ethics and society, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
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Biography
Pru graduated from the University of Edinburgh before studying for a PhD at the University of Nottingham in the Institute for Science and Society. Her thesis investigated organised resistance to childhood vaccination in the UK. This topic became increasingly politicised following media debate about the combined MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Her thesis and associated publications contributed to social scientific literatures on trust, ethics, public understanding of science, and risk.
In 2006 Dr Hobson-West was awarded a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics to study the UK debate about the use of animals in scientific research. As a consequence of this, Pru was invited to spend a semester as a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University (Fall 2006).
Pru joined the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in 2009 as a Lecturer in Welfare, Ethics and Society.
Expertise Summary
Dr Pru Hobson-West is a non-clinical lecturer in welfare, ethics and society. Since 2008 she has been a member of the Wellcome Trust Biomedical Ethics Interview Committee.
Research Summary
My primary research interest is in Animals & Society. This is an emerging area of research which seeks to understand the varied and complex relationships between individuals, communities, and… read more
Recent Publications
WHITE, G.A, HOBSON-WEST, P., COBB, K, CRAIGON, J, HAMMOND, R and MILLAR, K.M., 2011. Canine obesity: Is there a difference between veterinarian and owner perception?" Journal of Small Animal Practice. 52, 622-626 HOBSON-WEST, PRU, 2010. The role of 'public opinion' in the animal research debate Journal of Medical Ethics. 36, 46-49 MILLAR, K, HOBSON-WEST, P and NERLICH. B., eds., 2009. Ethical futures: Bioscience and food horizons Wageningen Academic Publishers.
Current Research
My primary research interest is in Animals & Society. This is an emerging area of research which seeks to understand the varied and complex relationships between individuals, communities, and animals. My own methodological expertise is in the use of qualitative methods to analyse documents, websites, focus group and interview data. For example, I was recently involved in a pilot project which used interviews with clients to explore the relationship between canine obesity, owner attitudes and veterinary practice. I am keen to develop future projects which draw on my theoretical expertise in lay/expert interactions and, more specifically, in understanding compliance with, or resistance to, medical advice.
My secondary research interest is in Animal Ethics. This field looks at the normative position of animals (e.g. companion, lab or farm animals), and the link between ethical principles and animal law or welfare public policy. My previous empirical work has investigated how senior laboratory scientists in the UK discuss the ethics of their research using animals, and how they negotiate evidence and uncertainty. I also have experience in the use of novel tools for ethical engagement.
Future Research
I am currently involved with several grant applications to look at issues around animal welfare, scientists' use of ethics, and UK public policy around animal research.