SEDRD Guest Lecture: Dr. Elsa Vasseur

The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) is pleased to host the following scholar whose work bridges sustainability, innovation, and systems transformation. The seminar brings together faculty, graduate students, and community partners to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue on responsible innovation, artificial intelligence, and ecological sustainability.  The seminar will be held in person, and refreshments will be provided.

Dr. Elsa Vasseur, Associate Professor.  Department of Animal Science, McGill University.

Lecture on "The WELL-E Approach to Data-Driven Inclusive Innovation: An AI-Powered Digital Living Lab for Animal Welfare Co-Developed with & for End Users"

Why This Seminar Matters?
Understand how AI is transforming livestock management systems
Explore responsible and inclusive innovation in dairy production
Reflect on how AI can improve both animal and human welfare

Background
Responsible and inclusive innovation frameworks emphasize that technological change must meaningfully address stakeholder needs while generating positive societal and environmental impacts. This seminar introduces the Research and Innovation Chair in Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence (WELL-E), which promotes digital transformation in the dairy sector through the integration of artificial intelligence and animal science within a Digital Living Lab model.

The WELL-E initiative operates across both a university teaching farm and a vocational training farm, integrating stakeholder expertise with advanced AI methods to co-develop scalable, adaptive, and field-tested solutions. The approach embraces F.A.I.R. data principles and prioritizes co-creation with producers, ensuring that responsible AI tools enhance both animal and human welfare.

About the Speaker
Dr. Elsa Vasseur is an Associate Professor at McGill University and Co-Chairholder of the Research and Innovation Chair in Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence (WELL-E). Her research centers on agricultural systems, food security, and farm animal welfare in national and international contexts. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, she integrates animal science, socio-economic perspectives, and stakeholder engagement to advance sustainable livestock systems. She also serves as Program Director of Global Food Security at McGill and leads international research initiatives in livestock development and knowledge transfer.