Michael's real passion is in epidemiological analytical methods and veterinary public health and applying new and interesting statistics and modelling methods. However, veterinary public health strikes a deeper chord in him as it involves using a range of techniques (often not very sophisticated) that can best help our society by reducing the impact of disease on both animal and human populations. He finds that as the disciplines public health is based on (including epidemiology and biostatistics) become more sophisticated, taking the methods available and applying them appropriately and with effect is a big challenge. The field is so enormous in its breadth, ranging from economics and risk assessment to modelling and spatial methods, that it's virtually impossible to be an expert in all of these emerging sub-disciplines. He feels that veterinary public health students not only need to take advantage of the opportunity to learn as many of the different tools that are available as possible, but to read and think about their chosen discipline: improving human health by improving animal health, whilst ensuring sustainability with high welfare standards in a cost-effective way.