October 19, 2012

openness on animal research

The violent animal rights extremism of the past decade has often had a chilling effect on the scientific community with many scientists and institutions afraid to speak out about animal research for fear of becoming the next target.

However more and more scientists are now are emerging from the shadow of fear and embracing a new bolder approach to speaking about the issue.  The importance of openness has also been brought into sharp focus by the findings of the latest BIS Mori poll and the belief amongst the UK’s airlines and ferry companies that the UK public does not support animal research.

To coincide with the publication by BIS of the latest MORI poll on public attitudes, the SMC hosted a briefing announcing a new initiative on openness emerging form the UK biosciences sector.

Speakers:

Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science

Sir Mark Walport, Head of the Wellcome Trust

Sharmila Nehbrajani, Chief Executive of AMRC

Stephen Whitehead, Chief Executive of ABPI

Prof Frances Balkwill, Chair of Understanding Animal Research and cancer researcher at QMUL