This year, Pig International is showing our true European colors. Among planned activities is my visit to the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress (IPVS) 2016 conference in Ireland next week. This is kind of scary, for two good reasons:
First, it will be just Pig International business for me, as I have no other consulting work planned for this trip (a rare event). This means free evenings to enjoy Ireland and Guinness! Wish me, then, good luck in my first foray as a pure journalist. No, no MSc in journalism is planned. I have spent enough years at school already and I am determined to enjoy freedom.
Second, and this is the really scary part, what does a nutritionist want among veterinarians? Well, as you have probably noticed by now, the magazine has decided to focus on nutrition and health. As we have the nutrition part covered, I need an update (and some education) on health matters. No, no Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, either. Although this thought crosses my mind occasionally, I remember the horror of exams and I relent quickly from such dark thoughts.
In all seriousness, though, I hope this becomes a common feature for the magazine and myself, as I find the whole world of animal health a fascinating field, especially now that both nutritionists and veterinarians recognize nutrition and health as indivisible aspects of animal well-being. I have already learned how little I know about animal health through the many article contributions from several authors for Pig International, and I suspect IPVS will be equally enlightening. I will let you know next week.
So, I'm off to IPVS and Ireland! By the way, this will be my first time in Ireland, too.
