Parallel Session 5: Wednesday 10 April 10:15 - 12:00
In 2007 The Pirbright Institute, previously the Institute for Animal Health, was nearing its 50th anniversary of being designated the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and approaching its centenary on the Surrey site. During the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Pirbright tested a huge volume of samples, driving technological advances in diagnostics and helping to curb the epidemic. Pirbright had an excellent global reputation for its research, control and surveillance of diseases of livestock. That changed abruptly when a new outbreak of FMD in August 2007 was traced back to the Surrey site where Merial and the Institute are co-located. The global media attention was intense, affecting staff, the local community, farmers and the public. This resulted in a reputation in tatters and trust at an all-time low among farmers, particularly those in the local area. For those farms nearby who lost entire herds that trust is still badly eroded, and the media often cite the events of 2007.
Eleven years on and the Institute has survived and flourished. Pirbright has worked hard to rebuild its reputation and trust with the local community, which is vital for the success of our cutting-edge research. Investment in, and construction of, world-class high-containment facilities suitable for 21st century science were part of this rebuilding of trust, as it was necessary to gain planning permission and buy-in from the local parish council and neighbouring community. We will tell the story of how Pirbright has rebuilt its reputation and regained public trust through ten years of public engagement activities, community dialogue, volunteering, public open days and media engagement using open dialogue and transparency. We will outline our challenges and successes and highlight the work still to do. This is still an ongoing effort.
