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'Pambassadors' head to Edinburgh
Chen Yinrong, Jerome Pouille and Melissa Rose Katz

Panda experts share knowledge with zoo visitors 

Specially selected giant panda ambassadors, or "pambassadors", visited Edinburgh Zoo this week to share their knowledge with school students and zoo visitors.

The three pambassadors - Melissa Rose Katz, Chen Yinrong and Jerome Pouille - were selected from more than one million applicants to share their experience of spending time at the Chengdu Panda Base in China.

 

All three were chosen for their unique skills - Melissa, for example, is a renowned panda photographer, Chen is skilled at panda-related crafts and Jerome is well known for his panda knowledge.

 

During the event, the trio spoke to students from Lasswade and Queen Anne high schools, which are both part of the Scotland-China Education Network (SCEN). 

 

Qu Jing, a representative for the Global Pambassadors Programme at Chegdu Panda Base, also attended the event. He shared his knowledge of environmental conservation, technological research and economic development in Chengdu.

 

As the event closed, students wrote messages and pledges which will be put on display at the Chengdu Panda Base. 

 

During their one-year role, the trio of pambassors will take part in a global tour to raise awareness about panda conservation. They have so far visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Washington DC and Atlanta, and will next be visiting Paris.

 

Image courtesy of Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

 

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk