A University of Guelph professor has been honoured with a top award from the British Society of Animal Science and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Prof. Georgia Mason, Animal Biosciences, received the RSPCA/BSAS Award for Innovative Developments in Animal Welfare at the International Society for Applied Ethology conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mason, a behavioural biologist, was recognized for her pioneering research, which has led to a better understanding of the effects of captivity on animals and how their welfare can be improved.

She studies how animals cope with captive housing conditions and is currently researching the cage size of farmed mink.