Staff Profile

Catherine Douglas (née Bertenshaw)

The pinnacle of my achievement to date has to be my Ig Nobel Prize, International Prize for Veterinary Medicine . 

More serious roles and responsibilities include:

Current:

Lecturer, Newcastle University (Animal Science and Agriculture)

I lecture in a range of Animal Science (Farm Animal and Companion Animal) related disciplines including: Animal Welfare, Behaviour, Nutrition. 

Degree Programme Director BSc Agriculture and BSc Animal Science, Newcastle University

Previous:

Centre Administrator for Combined Honours, Newcastle University.

I managed the Combined Honours Centre which coordinates the BA Combined Honours: planning, academic delivery and quality assurance, HR, student pastoral support, finance, also including supervision of student projects.

Assistant Registrar NUMed (Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia), Newcastle University, UK (2010-2012)

I managed the Newcastle end of the NUMed Malaysia transition project to support the establishment of the branch campus in Malaysia.

Regional Manager (NE, Yorkshire and Scotland) VETNET Lifelong Learning Network, Newcastle University (2007-2010)

I delivered the HEFCE-funded, Royal Veterinary College led, VETNET LLN Widening Participation project for 14 FE and HE Institutes in the region to increase access to HE for vocational learners. 

Associate Lecturer Companion Animal Science, Newcastle University (2007 - 2010)

Lecturer in Animal Management, East Durham College (2003-2007)

Guest Lecturer in Teacher Training, University of Sunderland (2006-2007)

Widening Participation Progression Coach, Newcastle (2002-2003)

Management Advisor to Dairy Farmers, Cheshire/Shropshire/Lancashire (1994-1998)

Qualifications

·        University Chameleon Programme (2013)

         Prince 2 Practitioner (Project Management) (2010)

·        Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2009)

·        Certificate of Advanced Studies in Academic Practice, Newcastle University (2009)

·        Post Graduate Certificate in Education (FE), Sunderland University (2004)

·        PhD Dairy Cow Welfare and Production, Newcastle University (2002)

·        BSc Agriculture, Newcastle University (1994)

Research Interests: 

Animal Welfare, Animal Behaviour and the Human Animal Relationship (HAR) in companion and farm animals:

• Differences in companion animal behaviour and temperament profiles based on experience (e.g. puppy farm/rescue home/neuter status) and breed (e.g. newly recognised cross-breed dogs)
• Cognitive bias to measure affective state. Can whether an animal perceives its glass half full or half empty, be measured and if so can it inform on the welfare of the animal under different management regimes.
• Human-animal interaction and its affects on welfare, behaviour and production in the dairy herd. 

Student Transition: 

Peer Assisted Learning, and extended inductions to reduce attrition and increase success in non-traditional learners in HE. 

Gamification to support group work in education:

Using games to explore group working

Reader in Animal Welfare and Behaviour, Teaching and Engagement / Degree Programme Director BSc Agriculture, and BSc Animal Science, Newcastle University (2024 - current)

Senior Lecturer Animal Science / Degree Programme Director BSc Agriculture, and BSc Animal Science, Newcastle University (2020 - 2024)

Lecturer Animal Science / Degree Programme Director BSc Agriculture, and BSc Animal Science, Newcastle University (2015 - 2020)

Teaching Fellow - Animal Science, Newcastle University (2013 - 2015)

Associate Lecturer Companion Animal Science, Newcastle University (2007 - 2010)

Lecturer in Animal Management, East Durham College (2003-2007)

Guest Lecturer in Teacher Training, University of Sunderland (2006-2007)

• Articles

  • Brar M, Douglas C, Lopez-Capel E, Franks J, Parker S. Using a gamification framework to increase student engagement with groupwork: 'Alien Alliance' - a boardgame for a range of scenarios. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal 2024, 5(2), 57-75.
  • Douglas C, Bateson M, Walsh C, Bédué A, Edwards SA. Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive biases in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2012, 139(1-2), 65-73.
  • Asher L, Davies TTO, Bertenshaw C, Cox MAA, Bateson M. The effects of cage volume and cage shape on the condition and behaviour of captive European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2009, 116(2-4), 286-294.
  • Bertenshaw C, Rowlinson P. Exploring Stock Managers' Perceptions of the Human-Animal Relationship on Dairy Farms and an Association with Milk Production. Anthrozoos 2009, 22(1), 59-69.
  • Bertenshaw C, Rowlinson P, Edge H, Douglas S, Shiel R. The effect of different degrees of 'positive' human-animal interaction during rearing on the welfare and subsequent production of commercial dairy heifers. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2008, 114(1-2), 65-75.
  • Bertenshaw CE, Rowlinson P. Exploring heifers' perception of 'positive' treatment through their motivation to pursue a retreated human. Animal Welfare 2008, 17(3), 313-319.
  • Bertenshaw C, Rowlinson P. The influence of positive human-animal interaction during rearing on the welfare and subsequent production of the dairy heifer. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science Conference 2001 2001, 17.
  • Bertenshaw C, Rowlinson P. The influence of positive human-animal interaction during rearing on the approach behaviour of young dairy heifers. Proceedings of the International Society of Applied Ethology Conference 2001 2001, 17.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Baker R, Douglas C. Exploring Self-recognition in Pigs (Sus scrofa). In: Online Animal Welfare Conference 2023. 2023, UFAW. In Preparation.
  • Gray R, Butler S, Douglas C, Serpell J. Puppies from “puppy farms” show more temperament and behavioural problems than if acquired from other sources . In: Recent Advances in Animal Welfare Science V: UFAW Animal Welfare Conference. 2016, York, UK: UFAW The International Animal Welfare Science Society.
  • Gash-Wales K, Douglas C, Serpell J. Do Staffordshire Bull Terriers experience more problem behaviours when acquired from rescue shelters than other sources – using CBARQ^TM Canine Behaviour And Research Questionnaire. In: Annual Conference 2016 – Animal Science for a Sustainable Future. 2016, Chester: Cambridge University Press.
  • Douglas C, Mata F, Menem G. Hip scoring for canine hip dysplasia: A comparison of British and German breeding strategies. In: British Society of Animal Science Annual Conference. 2015, Chester, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Houghton R, Douglas C, Mata F. A comparison of mastitis incidence in conventionally managed and organic dairy cows on the same farm. In: British Society of Animal Science Annual Conference. 2015, Chester, UK: Cambridge University Press.