Cynthia Naydani
Teaching Fellow in One Health and Planetary Health

Contact details
- Email: cynthia.naydani@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus - City
- Midlothian
- Post code
- EH25 9RG
Background
I am an ecologist turned animal welfare scientist with a fondness for data science and a passion for making information accessible to those who can use it to better the lives of their animals. My experience in both academia and industry is extensive and varied, ranging from living in the Belizean jungle, studying the behavioural ecology of wild monkeys, to owning a SCUBA diving school and yoga studio in Thailand. I combine inspiration from my international experiences with knowledge gleaned from my interests in pedagogy and human behaviour change to design and deliver educational experiences that are accessible, engaging, and impactful. My current research interests are broad, though consistently rooted in the interconnection of animals (human and non-human), with each other and to our planet. I aim to explore innovative solutions towards the improvement of animal welfare and planetary health, while inspiring future generations to overcome the challenges they inherit.
I am Programme co-Coordinator for the MSc in Planetary Health, and teach on a range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These include:
- Introduction to Planetary Health
- Understanding Planetary Health Data (Edinburgh Futures Institute)
- Understanding Planetary Health & Data: An Introduction to concepts and themes (R(D)SVS)
- Future Food Systems
- Mental Health in the Anthropocene
- Professional Skills for Global Agri-Food Scientists
- Equine Behaviour, Ethics, and Welfare
- Stewardship of the Equine Environment (University of Guelph)
I have received the Edinburgh Teaching Award, and am a Fellow in the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Qualifications
- Current PhD researcher in Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh (see 'Research' below for project details)
- MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (Distinction), University of Edinburgh
- Equine Welfare Certificate (Distinction), University of Guelph
- Equine Science Certificate (Distinction), University of Guelph
- Diploma in Equine Studies (Distinction), University of Guelph
- BSc in Ecology (1st Class Honours), University of Calgary
- BSc in Primatology (1st Class Honours), University of Calgary