The EARA Special Interest Event at the Virtual FENS Forum, last week, highlighted the importance of a proactive approach on communicating about the use of animals in biomedical sciences.
Around 140 people, from the life sciences community heard speakers from EARA, the UK Science Media Centre, Tierversuche Verstehen (TVV), Germany, and Infopunt Proefdieronderzoek (IPPO), Belgium.
EARA executive director, Kirk Leech, gave a brief introduction to the topic saying that “Openness in the public debate about animal research has been increasing in a number of European countries.”
EARA Communications Officer, Ana Barros, explained the steps taken by the Portuguese life science community to implement the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Portugal and gave examples of openness and communications from the members of the agreement.
Describing the response of the Transparency Agreement to the release of EU animal statistics earlier this year, Ana said: “It was the first time institutions in Portugal had a proactive approach on communicating animal statistics, also providing case studies.”
Fiona Fox, chief executive of the UK Science Media Centre, gave an overview of its work to help improve science communication.
“We have hundreds and hundreds of examples to demonstrate that proactive communication to the media around animal research results in time and time again in more accurate and measured coverage,” she said.
Roman Stilling, scientific advisor of TVV, shared insights of openness and transparency from Germany, emphasising that ‘no communication is not an option’.
“We want to proactively communicate not only when we are in a crisis, but before any crisis happens,” said Roman.
Liesbeth Aerts, of IPPO, gave the Belgian perspective on communicating the use of animals in science, where there has been a Transparency Agreement on Animal Research since December last year.
“If we can do it here in Belgium, I think we can do it anywhere in Europe” speaking about the Belgian transparency that has now 19 institutions committed to be more open about animal research.
In the Q&A session, all speakers agreed that the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the public perspective when asked about its impact.
“There is much more openness at present, among the media, on talking about the use of animals as part of research," highlighted Fiona Fox.
EARA has created a dedicated Covid-19 page and a global map showing how animals are helping in Covid-19 research.
During EARA’s event, a helpful thread on Twitter followed the debate.
Attendees of the Virtual FENS Forum, have an opportunity to watch the EARA Special Event online until mid-October 2020.