Education about animal welfare science, animal cognition, and practical animal care is foundational to long-term welfare improvement; formal and informal education channels each play important roles.
The long-term trajectory of animal welfare depends on building a society that understands and cares about animal experiences. Education — from primary school through professional training to adult public engagement — is the mechanism through which welfare science translates into changed behaviour, policy support, and professional practice. The investment in welfare education has compounding returns: each educated individual becomes a potential advocate, consumer, voter, or professional who incorporates welfare considerations into decisions affecting millions of animals.