Symposium Summary: Public Outreach—A Toolkit for Investigators
Highlights from the APS Animal Care and Experimentation Committee EB2012 symposium on Public Outreach.
Introduction to Public Outreach Symposium
Yates outlines the issues at hand: Public support for animal research has dwindled from more than 70% to the 50–60% range. Distorted information distributed by animal research opponents has played a role in this decline in public support, yet few investigators come forward to challenge false claims or invest time in building public confidence in the work we do.
Engaging The Public About Animal Research: A Scientist’s Perspective
Despite having been personally targeted by animal rights extremists, Ringach believes that the decline in public support is the more serious threat to biomedical research and outlines why public outreach is a responsibility shared by everyone in the broader scientific community.
Public Outreach: A Laboratory Animal Veterinarian’s Perspective and Experience Over a Quarter of a Century
Young breaks down the fundamentals of effectively communicating the value of animal research and other strategies he’s learned after 25 years of engaging the activists, the media, and the public.
Why Investigators And Institutions Must Talk About Animal Research: A Media Relations Perspective
Oregon National Primate Research Center has been infiltrated twice by animal rights activists. Newman discusses how a more transparent and engaged media strategy led to a markedly improved outcome the second time.