缅北禁地

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Staff Profile

Professor Lucy Asher

Professor of Behaviour Informatics

  • Telephone: +44 191 208 4638
  • Personal Website: asherbehaviourlab.com
  • Address: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Room 608
    Agriculture Building
    Kings Gate
    缅北禁地
    缅北禁地
    NE1 7RU
Background

My research concerns using patterns in behaviour to earlier detect good and poor welfare states or events. 

In the modern world computing technology is used for surveillance of human behaviour. By looking at the patterns of peoples' movements from CCTV footage, computing systems can detect those about to commit antisocial behaviour, violent acts or contemplating suicide. The main advantage of such techniques is that they can predict such unpleasant events before they happen. This means some of these events can be prevented.

I apply the study of patterns of behaviour to animals. I use statistical and computing techniques, but am very much grounded in ethology. Prediction of positive or negative welfare states and events using computing technology is likely to become increasingly important as the hundreds of billions of animals in human care increases further still. It is important that this area is led by an understanding of animal behaviour and welfare rather than the availability of technology. Yet computing and statistical techniques also have much to offer the study of behaviour. Patterns in behaviour can be used to automatically create ethograms, based on behaviour shown by animal and precise measurements of movement. Extremely subtle changes in behaviour can be detected which would not be apparent to the human observer. Behaviour over long time scales can be studied and normality or abnormality defined for each individual. These are the types of challenges which have interested me throughout my career.

I trained in Zoology and Psychology at Bristol and completed an MSc in Animal Behaviour at Edinburgh, before commencing a PhD on starling welfare with Professor Melissa Bateson. Through my PhD on starlings, I studied sequences in behaviour using a Markov chain approach. A post-doctoral position at the Royal Veterinary College followed, where I used novel methods to quantify patterns of group behaviour in hens. For the five years which followed I was based at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, first as a Lecturer and then Assistant Professor. During my time at Nottingham I used statistical approaches to measure  'The Epidemiology of guide dog behaviour' in a large scale 5 year research project. I also worked on a range of other projects relevant to animal welfare in a variety of species; from poultry to elephants. 

In 2015 I moved to 缅北禁地 to take up a position as Senior 缅北禁地 University Research Fellow and in 2019 took a Senior Lectureship. I was promoted to Professor in 2021. I continue to work on patterns in behaviour, primarily focusing on domestic poultry and dogs. A list of current projects can be found on my Research page.

Research

I have two main streams of research at 缅北禁地, as well as involvement in a number of other projects looking at patterns of animal behaviour.

DogBox- we are developing high-tech ways of recording and measuring dog behaviour and welfare. We use inertial sensors and video footage to record dog behaviour and movement and use statistical and computational methods to determine which movements and which behaviour is associated with good and poor welfare states. We are interested in how behaviour changes over time and how predictable or random behaviour becomes under stress.


ChickenWatch- we research automated measurements of chicken health and welfare using vision-based techniques and acoustic monitoring. Using the patterns of movement a chicken makes over time, the thermal readings of an individual or flock, or the calls an individual or flock make, we can tell a lot about how a chicken's welfare. 

Teaching

I contribute to the MRes courses in the Faculty of Medical Sciences and supervise postgraduate students.

Publications

  • Articles

    • Montalcini CM, Toscano MJ, Asher L, Petelle MB. . PLoS ONE 2024, 19(7), e0306384.
    • Collins SA, Herborn K, Sufka KJ, Asher L, Brilot B. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2024, 277, 106359.
    • Armstrong D, Asher L, Rayner A, Ngidda H, Sharma B, Gray H. . Poultry Science 2023, 102(10), 102989.
    • Ogbonna AC, Chaudhry AS, Asher L. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2023, 268, 106083.
    • Ogbonna A, Chaudhry AS, Asher L. . Animal - Science Proceedings 2022, 13(1), 21-22.
    • Ogbonna AC, Chaudhry AS, Asher L. . Frontiers in Animal Science 2022, 2, 806967.
    • van der Sluis M, Asher L, Rodenburg TB, de Haas Y, de Klerk B, Ellen ED. . Poultry Science 2022, 101(10), 102086.
    • Ogbonna A, Chaudhry AS, Asher L. . Animal- Science Proceedings 2022, 13(1), 102-103.
    • Herbert GT, Redfearn WD, Brass E, Dalton HA, Gill R, Brass D, Smith C, Rayner AC, Asher L. . Veterinary Record 2021, 188(12), e245.
    • Gray H, Davies R, Bright A, Rayner A, Asher L. . Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2020, 7, 616836.
    • James C, Wiseman J, Asher L. . Poultry Science 2020, 99(11), 5517-5525.
    • Asher L, England GCW, Sommerville R, Harvey ND. . Biology Letters 2020, 16, 20200097.
    • Herborn KA, McElligott AG, Mitchell MA, Sandilands V, Bradshaw B, Asher L. . Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2020, 17(167), 20200086.
    • Belshaw Z, Dean R, Asher L. . BMC Veterinary Research 2020, 16(1), 85.
    • Bram Dube M, Asher L, Wurbel H, Riemer S, Melotti L. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10(1), 5288.
    • Finnegan SL, Volk HA, Asher L, Daley M, Packer RMA. . Veterinary Record 2020, 187(4), 152-152.
    • Hintze S, Maulbetsch F, Asher L, Winckler C. . PeerJ 2020, 8, e9395.
    • Hunt RL, England GCW, Asher L, Whiteside H, Harvey ND. . Animals 2020, 10(12), 1-14.
    • Belshaw Z, Dean R, Asher L. . BMC Veterinary Research 2020, 16(1), 190.
    • Friel M, Kunc HP, Griffin K, Asher L, Collins LM. . Scientific reports 2019, 9(1), 2062.
    • Rufener C, Abreu Y, Asher L, Berezowski JA, Sousa FM, Stratmann A, Toscano MJ. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2019, 217, 48-56.
    • Yon L, Williams E, Harvey ND, Asher L. . PLoS ONE 2019, 14(2), e0210783.
    • James C, Asher L, Herborn K, Wiseman J. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2018, 209, 55-64.
    • Rufener C, Berezowski J, Maximiano Sousa F, Abreu Y, Asher L, Toscano MJ. . Scientific Reports 2018, 8(1), 12303.
    • Ladha C, Belshaw Z, O'Sullivan J, Asher L. . BMC Veterinary Research 2018, 14, 107.
    • Williams E, Chadwick CL, Yon L, Asher L. . Animal Welfare 2018, 27(3), 235-249.
    • Chadwick CL, Williams E, Asher L, Yon L. . Animal Welfare 2017, 26(4), 461-472.
    • Ladha C, O'Sullivan J, Belshaw Z, Asher L. . Sensors 2017, 17(2), 309.
    • Braem M, Asher L, Furrer S, Lechner I, Wurbe H, Melotti L. . PLoS One 2017, 12(5), e0177616.
    • Asher L, Harvey ND, Green M, England GCW. . Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2017, 4, 116.
    • Harvey ND, Craigon PJ, Blythe SA, England GCW, Asher L. . PLoS ONE 2017, 12(6), e0174261.
    • Stevens KN, Asher L, Griffin K, Friel M, O'Connell N, Collins LM. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2017, 197, 101-111.
    • Caron-Lormier G, England GCW, Green MJ, Asher L. . Veterinary Journal 2016, 207, 124-130.
    • Caron-Lormier G, Harvey ND, England GCW, Asher L. . Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 23860.
    • Belshaw Z, Asher L, Dean RS. . Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2016, 131, 121-126.
    • Harvey ND, Craigon PJ, Sommerville R, McMillan C, Green M, England GCW, Asher L. . Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2016, 11, 65-76.
    • Harvey ND, Craigon PJ, Blythe SA, England GCW, Asher L. . Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2016, 16, 13-21.
    • Asher L, Friel M, Griffin K, Collins LM. . Biology Letters 2016, 12(11), 20160402.
    • Friel M, Kunc HP, Griffin K, Asher L, Collins LM. . Royal Society Open Science 2016, 3(6), 160178.
    • Caron-Lormier G, Harvey ND, England GCW, Asher L. . PLoS ONE 2016, 11(11), e0165414.
    • Liste G, Asher L, Broom DM. . Ethology 2014, 120(12), 1199-1206.
    • Asher L, Collins LM, Pfeiffer DU, Nicol CJ. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2013, 147(1-2), 94-103.
    • Abeyesinghe SM, Drewe JA, Asher L, Wathes CM, Collins LM. Do hens have friends?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2013, 143, 61-66. In Preparation.
    • Jamieson J, Reiss MJ, Allen D, Asher L, Parker MO, Wathes CM, Abeyesinghe SM. Adolescents care but don’t feel responsible for farm animal welfare. Society and Animals 2013. In Preparation.
    • Asher L, Blythe S, Roberts R, Toothill L, Craigon PJ, Evans KM, Green MJ, England GCW. . Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2013, 8(6), 431-438.
    • Buckland EL, Whiting MC, Abeyesinghe SM, Asher L, Corr S, Wathes CM. ) A survey of stakeholders' opinions on the priority issues affecting the welfare of companion dogs in Great Britain. Animal Welfare 2013, 22, 239-253. In Preparation.
    • Jamieson J, Reiss MJ, Allen D, Asher L, Wathes CM, Abeyesinghe SM. Measuring the success of a farm animal welfare education event. Animal Welfare 2012, 21, 65-75. In Preparation.
    • Bettley CD, Cardwell JM, Collins LM, Asher L. Inherited defects in domestic horse breeds. Animal Welfare 2012, 21, 59-64. In Preparation.
    • Morgan KV, Hurly TA, Bateson M, Asher L, Healy SD. . Behavioural Processes 2012, 89(2), 115-120.
    • Asher L, Collins LM. Assessing synchrony in groups: Are you measuring what you think you are measuring?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2012, 138, 162-169. In Preparation.
    • Collins LM, Asher L, Summers JF, McGreevy PD. Getting priorities straight: risk assessment and decision-making in the improvement of inherited disorders in pedigree dogs. The Veterinary Journal 2011, 189, 147-154.
    • Asher L, Buckland EL, Phylactopoulos CI, Whiting MC, Abeyesinghe SM, Wathes CM. . BMC Veterinary Research 2011, 7, 74.
    • Grierson J, Asher L, Grainger K. An Investigation into Risk Factors for Bilateral Cruciate Rupture. Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology: VCOT 2011, 24, 192-196. In Preparation.
    • Collins LM, Asher L, Diesel G, Summers JF, McGreevy PD. Welfare epidemiology as a tool to assess the welfare impact of inherited defects on the pedigree dog population. Animal Welfare 2010, 19, 67-75. In Preparation.
    • Brilot BO, Asher L, Bateson M. . Animal Cognition 2010, 13(5), 721-731.
    • Summers JF, Diesel G, Asher L, McGreevy PD, Collins LM. Inherited defects in pedigree dogs II: Non- Conformational disorders. The Veterinary Journal 2010, 183, 39-45.
    • Collins LM, Asher L, Pfeiffer DU, Nicol CJ. Clustering and synchrony in laying hens: the effect of environmental resources on social dynamics. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2010, 129, 43-53. In Preparation.
    • Brilot BO, Asher L, Bateson M. . Animal Behaviour 2009, 78(4), 801-807.
    • Asher L, Davies TTO, Bertenshaw C, Cox MAA, Bateson M. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2009, 116(2-4), 286-294.
    • Brilot BO, Asher L, Feenders G, Bateson M. . Behavioural Processes 2009, 82(3), 256-264.
    • Asher L, Diesel G, Summers JF, McGreevy PD, Collins LM. Inherited defects in pedigree dogs Part 1: Disorders related to breed standards. The Veterinary Journal 2009, 182, 402-411. In Preparation.
    • Asher L, Kirkden R, Bateson M. An empirical investigation of two assumptions of motivation testing: does cost reduce demand and do animals have an energy budget to spend?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2009, 118, 152-160. In Preparation.
    • Matheson SM, Asher L, Bateson M. . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2008, 109(2-4), 374-383.

  • Book Chapter

    • Bateson M, Asher L. . In: Hubrecht, R & Kirkwood, J, ed. The UFAW Handbook on The Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, pp.697-705.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

    • Ogbonna AC, Mabelebelem M, Asher L, Chaudhry AS. . In: 26th World Poultry Congress. 2022, Paris, France: French Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association.

  • Reviews

    • Craigon PJ, Hobson-West P, England GCW, Whelan C, Lethbridge E, Asher L. . PLoS One 2017, 12(4), e0176018.
    • Asher L, Collins LM, Ortiz-Pelaez A, Drewe JA, Pfeiffer DU, Nicol CJ. Recent advances in the analysis of behavioural organisation and interpretation as indicators of animal welfare. Journal of the Royal Society: Interface 2009, 6, 1103-1119.
    • Asher L, Bateson M. . Laboratory Animals 2008, 42(2), 111-126.