German institutions, including two EARA members, have been recognised for their open and transparent approach on communicating animal research. The initiative, Qualitätssiegel (Seal of Quality), by German animal research advocacy group Tierversuche verstehen, applauded the initiatives of six institutions.
These included EARA members Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, and the Max Planck Society that have both launched campaigns on their websites where scientists explain why animal models are necessary for their particular research. Other award winners were:
University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, for its easily accessible website with detailed information on animal experiments;
German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, for its virtual and guided tours;
Rudolf Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery at Rostock University Medical Center, for its interactive lab tour;
Pro-Test Germany for promoting factual debates on social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
“Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen how important it is to have a good understanding of scientific processes and scientific work. We would like to contribute to this through honest communication on animal research,” said Professor Thomas Sommer, interim Scientific Director of the MDC.