Kirsi-Marja Swan

Kirsi-Marja Swan serves as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Production Animal Medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki. Her academic position includes supervising doctoral students in the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine and conducting research focused on practical applications of animal welfare science in commercial farming systems.

Dr. Swan's primary research interests include:

• Animal welfare assessment and improvement in swine production systems
• Sow behavior during critical periods including nest-building and lactation
• Effects of environmental enrichment on pig behavior and welfare outcomes
• Veterinary ethics education and implementation
• Animal protection legislation and enforcement mechanisms
• Physiological and behavioral indicators of animal welfare

Her publication record demonstrates a consistent research trajectory examining how access to appropriate materials affects animal behavior and welfare. Recent work has expanded into canine welfare and legislative frameworks, while maintaining her core focus on practical applications for farming systems. Dr. Swan frequently collaborates with researchers across Finland and presents at international conferences on veterinary behavior and welfare science.

Dr. Swan has been actively involved in several professional activities:

• Organized and participated in the 'Understanding animal pain' conference (2018)
• Presented at the 11th International Veterinary Behavior Meeting (2017)
• Contributed to the EU Anicare adult education project (2019)
• Co-authored research on veterinary ethics education implementation