Parallel Session 5: Wednesday 10 April 10:15 - 12:00
The issue of using animals in research is a controversial one, and one where public support has diminished in recent years, along with a growing interest in and knowledge of alternatives such as organoids and computer modelling. However, the knowledge of many of our genes is limited (many thousands are unstudied) and the need to assign a function to genes based on their role in a whole organism continues to be a pivotal part of genetic research at MRC Harwell.
Over the last ten years, MRC Harwell has co-ordinated a number of outreach programmes that have increased both its scientific and public profile in an attempt to raise the public's understanding of the animal research. This has included welcoming 350+ visitors to site a year, many of whom have had comprehensive tours of the animal house, located inside a high health status facility. BBC 5 Live broadcast a 2 hour documentary from the animal house in 2012 which was followed by a live radio debate. The broadcast was listened to by over 5 million people. In addition, the Medical Research Council has become a signatory to the openness concordat on animal research in the UK. In 2017, MRC Harwell were presented with an openness award for participating in the development of 360 tours of the animal facility. These virtual tours were developed in conjunction with Understanding Animal Research to provide greater public access to the workings of an animal facility. 15,000 people have been on the tour already.
Our outreach activities aim to raise awareness of the importance of animal genetics when studying the causes of human disease. We are also very keen to inspire the next generation of young scientists. The current range of activities include friends and family visits, school visits, radio broadcasts and participation in news and documentary programmes. Central to this outreach plan has been good communication, openness, planning and ensuring the language used is considered for the target audience. The feedback has been very positive from both visitors and staff. We have learned that the public has a considerable appetite for science and appreciates the care we take to explain the work we do. The staff also enjoy talking about their work. Outreach provides a platform to explain both the science that goes on at Harwell and how good animal care is central to all our research.
