Jessica Stokes

Dr. Jessica Stokes is an Associate Professor in Farm Animal Welfare Science and Policy at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). She holds additional roles as Senior Lecturer, Academic Lead for the Agricultural Science and Practice Programme, and Programme Manager for the Graduate Diploma in Agriculture. Her work bridges science, policy, and practice to enhance farm animal welfare, focusing on livestock species such as dairy cattle, sheep, and laying hens.

Dr. Stokes holds a BSc (Exeter), MSc (Exeter), PhD (Bristol), PGCAP (Gloucestershire), and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her research emphasizes collaboration with farmers and industry to create welfare frameworks that promote animal well-being while addressing sustainability challenges. Notable projects include BroilerNet (enhancing the European broiler sector) and Pathways to Sustainable Food (funded by Horizon Europe).

Her research interests span positive welfare assessment, technology in livestock management, and policy development. She has pioneered frameworks for evaluating 'good life' opportunities in dairy cattle and sheep, integrating farmer expertise with scientific evidence. Key areas include GPS tracking for cattle behavior analysis, microclimate regulation in organic farming, and welfare impacts of innovative practices like GPS shock collars.

Dr. Stokes has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and presented at international conferences, including the University Federation for Animal Welfare Conference and the ECAWBM/AWSELVA/ESVCE/PSI Animal Congress. She actively promotes agricultural literacy and widening participation in the sector through teaching and outreach.