Research and education first: 50 years of the Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers

Veterinary education, priorities for research and the veterinary contribution to Third Would development were just some of the topics considered at this year's conference of the Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers, held at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough from April 2 to 4, This year marked the 50th anniversary of the association, and the meeting provided an opportunity both to reflect on the past and look to the future. The conference has long been established as providing a forum for the dissemination of the latest research results and for giving an overview of current veterinary research activity - and with nearly 200 scientific presentations, this year's meeting was no exception. lit addition, to mark the anniversary, it included a special opening lecture on veterinary education in the USA, and presentations from the BVA's specialist divisions on current research needs. The anniversary theme was continued in the Norbrook plenary lecture, given by Dr Wafter Plowright and entitled 'Three revolutions in 50 years of microbiology: a personal view of their effects and lessons', which will be published in The Veterinary Record at a later date