Learning About Crossing the Lines: The WELL-E Approach to Capacity Development

Authors: Helen Hambly and Elsa Vasseur

Date: 2025-07-01

Status: Published

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Short abstract (200 words): WELL-E, Research and Innovation Chair on Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence, is a Digital Living Laboratory, focused on the needs of animals and end-users with deep industry partnerships, as well as multi-disciplinary scientific committees, in which end-users and the research team interact intensively in the co-creation of projects and delivery of high-impact results. WELL-E strategically pursues capacity development (CapDev) as an all-encompassing approach to building capacity, enabling capacities to change ways of knowing and doing, thereby responding and contributing to systems change. WELL-E’s pursuit of CapDev to enable individual students to build direct links with diverse scientists, organizations, and networks across systems of higher education, research partnerships and industry is an important model for future Living Labs. WELL-E’s contribution to transforming agri-food systems and extension services through enhancing capacity crosses many boundaries, not only within science disciplines but twinning science-based industries like dairy and information technology that have not always had sufficient learning opportunities together.