Eva Lazar

I am a Romanian veterinarian with a deep passion for equine medicine and welfare. My professional journey began with a specialisation in social pedagogy, which I still draw upon today as it aligns with the principles of behaviour change and provides a framework for ways of fostering sustainable change. I’ve also recently undertaken studies in project management and EU funds acquisition to further assist with human behaviour change science research projects, such as a community project I’m involved in currently aiming to improve working horse welfare.

I’ve embraced a diverse range of roles over the years which has been driven by my desire for continuous learning and growth, particularly in order to improve animal welfare. My professional journey includes teaching, scientific research within academia, serving as a stud farm veterinarian, organising and participating in events for horse owners and farriers, a shorter stint at an equine hospital abroad, and extensive involvement in projects with HBCL since 2018. These projects have ranged from research in Kenya surrounding human behaviour related to equine welfare, to collaborating with the HBCL team on a Eurogroup project exploring the benefits of carcass trade over live animal trade.

I’ve also had the privilege of presenting at the Asociatia Veterinara Ecvina din Romania (AVER) Congress and been a part of many of their events including workshops as a member of the association. AVER is a professional equine veterinary organisation aimed at veterinary practitioners and students, focusing on promoting the quality and professionalism in equine medicine and, through this, improving the welfare of equines living in Romania. My commitment to improving equine welfare in my home country led me to be part of a team establishing The Horse Welfare Association (ABC) to unite, educate and support the community of those working with equines. I have also worked with HBCL’s co-director Jo White on a project supporting equine welfare in Romania covering farriery.

Each chapter of my life feels like a kaleidoscope of experiences - shreds of different colours and shapes forming an image depending on how we shake them. Each element has an essential part to play in forming the current picture, and this is particularly true with applying human behaviour change science to the real world.

 

 A chat with Eva

Tell us a little bit about you and your journey into behaviour change?

Although veterinary science may seem a specific domain, I find it very interesting how different skills and sets of knowledge interact in this kind of work. We may have solid animal welfare knowledge, but when it comes to improving the life of a domestic animal the first step always depends on the willingness, knowledge and circumstances of their owners: they are the providers of conditions in which their animals live. Only after can we think about the animal’s individual ability to cope with the challenges of a given environment to achieve a certain degree of welfare. Thus, communication with people becomes key, finding that level of interpersonal connection to allow the transmission of information, and to find together solutions where and when these are needed. Many times, this work requires patience, openness to switch perspectives and the ability to recognise progress. To appreciate each little step made.

 

Behaviour change is always interesting. As a veterinarian, I learned to look at behaviours and try to find their motives, internal causes, because sick animals often, if not always, change their behaviour. In this perspective, the behaviour change has a negative meaning, it aligns with the symptoms of a disease or pain. Without being able to ask questions and receive answers we understand, we have to find the causes and act on them to restore health—which will restore the “normal” behaviour. Of course, there are other instances too, when we achieve behavioural change in animals through training, we “correct” behaviours. However, addressing the internal causes of a certain way of acting is equally important in this scenario too. This logic made it clear to me that we speak about behaviour change but in reality, we mean much more than addressing the “symptoms”. Behavioural change is an immense topic.

 

Why does the science of behaviour change matter?

It matters because it is a science. Having a systematic, rigorous and standardised method to study, understand and modulate the underlying processes and mechanisms which cause certain behavioural responses can deliver powerful tools to help millions of people around the globe. This means there isn’t one, single recipe to be used in all situations when someone wishes to change behaviour. Unfortunately, an immense toolbox is needed and each instrument in it to further be tailored according to the person, the situation, the behaviour… this is how I imagine it. It requires hard work, tremendous research and many trials and errors, but we already saw that most interventions could not be generalised to obtain long-term effects. Maybe we, as a human community, reached the point where we accept we must do the hard work and the science of behavioural change was born. There are things to learn from failures too, why they happened and how to avoid them—a science serves to keep records as well.  Behavioural change is not easy but very much needed in a tremendous number of domains and situations. This is why the science of it matters.

 

What is the most inspiring behaviour change intervention you have come across and why?

Whilst not a targeted intervention, it is a truly inspiring behaviour change we are witnessing still in Romania. Society is changing, the ethical view towards animals is changing and it happens in a good way, especially concerning small animals. From the very widespread scenario of chained dogs not properly cared for which I vividly remember from my childhood to the added chapters in the veterinary courses about companion animals and now to the much more responsible and caring owners I keep seeing a continuous attitude change. Another proof of this is the development of small animal veterinary medicine: colleagues investing in much more sophisticated diagnostic and treatment equipment and continuous professional development: it becomes a self-sustaining spiral between the needs of the owners for their animals and the readiness of the service providers to fulfil the existing needs. It is an encouraging change to acknowledge and appreciate.

 

What’s your vision for behaviour change for the next five years?

In the next five years, I envision behaviour change playing a crucial role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges currently. Conflict remains a significant issue, and I believe human behaviour change science has the power to foster understanding, collaboration, and positive societal shifts. While there are many areas to focus on, this is one of the most urgent for me.

 

Why do you like working with HBCL?

Working with HBCL always gives me that feeling of being part of a team and having a team around me. What I like the most is the multidisciplinary approach in each work task, which is possible through a collaboration of specialists from different fields but having similar core concepts. It just makes work much easier, more inspiring and pleasant.

 

Top tip for individuals or organisations getting started with behaviour change?

Genuine curiosity for behaviours and their causes, openness and flexibility in thinking (without being judgemental) could be a good place to start, in my opinion, together with a willingness to learn and keep learning.