Anatomy and Physiology of Animals/The Author

thumb|300px|right 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.