Stein Receives Foxcroft Lectureship Award

January 23, 2019 — 

Dr. Tom Stein was named the 2019 Foxcroft Lectureship awardee during this year's Banff Pork Seminar. Each year one speaker attends the Banff Pork Seminar as part of the legacy of Dr. George Foxcroft, professor emeritus, swine research pioneer and industry icon. The Foxcroft Lectureship has been established to allow the Banff Pork Seminar, in conjunction with the University of Alberta, to host speakers who are conducting high profile research that is applicable to the pork production industry and will potentially improve production efficiency.

Dr. Stein is Senior Strategic Adviser for Maximus Systems, leading the design and development of next-generation pig and poultry production management software using machine learning to automate pattern recognition and analysis. He is the designer of the PigCHAMP software and co-founder of MetaFarms. He was named one of the top 50 men and women who truly have made a difference in the US pork industry. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians recognized Dr. Stein for outstanding contributions to swine production and health in 2012 with the Howard Dunne Memorial Award.

"It was quite an honor to be given the George Foxcroft award. And a surprise! It's a real thrill because I've known George for a long time and have enormous respect for him both as a scientist and as a person," noted Dr. Stein.

Established in 2013, this award honours Dr. Foxcroft's career long commitment to the pork production industry and his philosophy of bringing "Research to Reality". The award also highlights the underlying principle that the development of technologies and innovations worth transferring to industry require rigorous and thorough research programs led by exceptional individuals.

The recipient of the Foxcroft Lectureship is chosen each year by the Banff Pork Seminar Awards Committee based on these criteria and the list of recipients includes a select group of very impressive and productive scientists.