# Anatomy and Physiology of Animals/The Author

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Ruth Lawson is a zoologist who gained her first degree at Imperial
College, London University and her D.Phil from York University, UK.
After post graduate research on the tropical parasitic worm that causes
schistosomiasis, she emigrated to New Zealand where she spent 10 years
studying how hydatid disease spreads and can be controlled. With the
birth of her daughter, Kate, she started to teach at the Otago
Polytechnic, in Dunedin. Although human and animal anatomy and
physiology has been her main teaching focus, she retains a strong
interest and teaches courses in parasitology, public health, animal
nutrition and pig husbandry. Ruth lives on the Otago Peninsula
overlooking the beautiful Otago Harbour where she races her Topper
sailing dinghy. She also enjoys tramping, skiing and gardening and has
meditated for many years.

