Course Tutor BSc (Hons) BSc Applied Animal Science
About Me
I have over 20 years’ experience in the animal science industry; having worked in a number of zoological collections (under various roles), as education officer for several wildlife charities which involved in some work in the agriculture industry. More recently, through my work with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, I have been involved in the companion animal behaviour sector.
I have a PhD in Biological Sciences from Queen’s University Belfast where I researched Chinese muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevsi) invasion and the use of camera traps as a population assessment tool.
I am a registered Animal Scientist with the British Society of Animal Science and have a keen interest in animal behaviour and welfare research. I am also Co-founder of the ManyZoos initative and collaborator on several ManyX projects including a registered collaborator on the ManyDogs project (an international consortium of researchers interested in Canine Science). Plus a member of the Animal Welfare Research Network.
I am trustee of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, co-chair of the British Ecological Society Grants Committee and section editor for the Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research.
Areas of Research
My areas of research include animal related public education/perception, invasion ecology, population ecology and ecological techniques, behaviour (enrichment, training and cognition) and welfare, and nutrition (feeding behaviour). I am particularly interested in using animal centred computer technology and remote sensing to address more challenging questions, such as animal facial expressions, biomechanics and population assessments.
Conferences
Fletcher, K.A., Cameron, L.J., Freeman, M UK horse owner perceptions of factors impacting equine emotional state and barriers to making positive welfare changes
International Society for Equitation Science (ISES online conference 2021)
Forino, S., Cameron, L., Stones, N. and Freeman, M. An investigation into self-perception of body image in female equestrians in the United Kingdom (UK) Thoroughbred (TB) Racing sector. International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) online conference 2021
Todd S. C., Cameron L. J., Freeman, M. Stones N. and Wathan J. No more long faces? Investigating a means of improving student understanding of and attitude towards equidae on animal management courses International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) online conference 2021
Forino, S., Cameron, L., Stones, N. and Freeman, M (2021) An investigation into self perception in body image in female equestrians in the United Kingdom. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 100 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103612
Bardsley, H., Jarratt H., Garraway, J., Freeman M.. Identifying dogs’affective states from videos of subtle behavioural cues- can anybody do it? Animal Behavior Society Virtual conference 2021
Barrett, K., Cameron, L. J. and Freeman, M. (2019). Different Lucerne (Alfalfa) Presentations and the effect upon mastication in horses. Altech Conference
Collins, B., Freeman, M. and Hunt K. (2019). Anthropomorphism as a conservation tool in non-charismatic species. BIAZA 21st Research Conference.
Caravaggi A, Vallely M-C, Hogg K, Freeman M, Fadaei E, Reid N, Tosh D (2018). Activity and temporal relationships of free-ranging mammals revealed by camera traps. Mammal Society Spring Conference.
Simpson, R., Freeman, M. S., Macri, A., Cox, A. and Riley, S (2016) Long term learning retention in zoo education. 18th Annual BIAZA research conference, Yorkshire.
Fletcher, K.A., Cameron, L.J., Freeman, M. and Stones, N. (2020) Contemplating the Five Domains model of animal welfare assessment: UK horse owner perceptions of equine well-being. Proceedings of the BSAS 76th Annual Conference 2020, The Challenge of Change.
Bartlett, E., Cameron, L.J. and Freeman, M.S. (2020) Equine (Equus caballus) social network construction within small domestic groups. Proceedings of the BSAS 76th Annual Conference 2020, The Challenge of Change.
Publications
Cozens-Keeble, E.H., Arnold, R.; Newman, A.; Freeman, M.S. (2021). It’s Virtually Summer, Can the Zoo Come to You? Zoo Summer School Engagement in an Online Setting. J. Zool. Bot. Gard., 2, 625–635. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2040045
James, C., Nicholls, A., Freeman, M., Hunt, K., & Brereton, J. E. (2021). Should zoo foods be chopped: macaws for consideration. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 9(4), 200–207. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v9i4.507
Forino, S., Cameron, L., Stones, N., & Freeman, M. (2021). Potential impacts of body image perception in female equestrians. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 103776.
ManyDogs Project, Espinosa, J1, Bray E., B., Buchsbaum, D., Byosiere, S., Byrne, M., Freeman, M.S., Gnanadesikan, G. E., Guran, C.A.,Horschler, D. J.,Huber, L., Johnston, A. M., MacLean, E. L., Pelgrim, M. H., Santos, L., Silver, Z. A., Stevens, J.R., Völter, C. J. & Zipperling, L. (2021) ManyDogs 1: A Multi-Lab Replication Study of Dogs’ Pointing Comprehension. PsyArXiv. July 12. doi:10.31234/osf.io/f86jq.
Fletcher K., Cameron, L. and Freeman, M., (2021) Contemplating the Five Domains model of animal welfare assessment: UK horse owner perceptions of equine well-being. Animal Welfare, 30 (3) 259-268
Williams M, Freeman MS, Brereton JE. Investigating the Nocturnal Behavior of Zoo-Housed Tawny Frogmouths. J Vet Med Animal Sci. 2021; 4(1): 1063.
Freeman, M. S., Hogg, K. (2020). A decade of muntjac research in Northern Ireland. Deer 19 (5) 18-19
Caravaggi, A., Gatta, M., Vallely, M., Hogg, K., Freeman, M., Fadaei, E., Dick J. T. A., Montgomery, I., Reid, N. and Tosh, D. G. (2018). Seasonal and predator-prey effects on circadian activity of free-ranging mammals revealed by camera traps. Peer J, 6 e5827
Freeman, M. S. (2018). Marsupial Diet. In Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, edited by Jennifer Vonk and Todd K. Shackelford.
Freeman, M.S., (2018). Hyracoidae. In Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, edited by Jennifer Vonk and Todd K. Shackelford.
Freeman, M. S., Beatty, G. E., Dick, J. T. A., Reid, N. and Provan, J. (2016) The paradox of invasion: Reeves’ muntjac deer invade the British Isles from a limited number of founding females. Journal of Zoology, 298: 54–63.
Dick, J.T.A., Freeman, M., Provan, J., and Reid, N. (2010) First record of free-living Reeves’ muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi (Ogilby 1839)) in Northern Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 31, 151
Freeman, M. (2007) Long-Nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) Husbandry Guidelines. Management Guidelines for the Welfare of Zoo Animals, BIAZA, London