EARA Openness Events are practical, solutions-focused meetings for furthering a culture of transparency in the biomedical research sector and supporting institutions in communicating more openly and effectively about animal research.
Openness Events are designed for people working in and around animal research—researchers, animal welfare and veterinary professionals, facility teams, communications teams, and institutional leadership—who want to strengthen transparency and public-facing communication with confidence and accuracy.
These events are not framed as ethical debates. Instead, they focus on:
- how to explain why animals are used and what they contribute to health and scientific progress
- what welfare, oversight and the 3Rs look like in practice
- how institutions can share information proactively
- how to respond to difficult questions in a constructive, evidence-based way
Who are Openness Events for?
Openness Events are relevant to:
- researchers and research leaders
- animal welfare officers, veterinarians and facility staff
- communications and public engagement teams
- students and early-career researchers
- relevant external stakeholders (where appropriate), such as patient organisations, funders, policymakers and journalists
What does an Openness Event look like?
Most events follow a simple, half-day structure:
- short talks from internal and external speakers (science, welfare/oversight, communications)
- a moderated panel discussion
- time for networking and peer exchange
Formats can be adapted to the host’s needs (in-person, with optional streaming).
Who organises and supports them?
Openness Events are delivered by EARA in collaboration with the host institution(s) and sponsored by the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN).
They are typically supported and hosted by EARA member organisations and national partners that promote openness and transparency in animal research, including those involved in national transparency agreement networks.
EARA typically helps with:
- agenda design and speaker coordination
- event promotion and registration set-up
- moderation and facilitation
- post-event follow-up and resources (where agreed)
Hosts typically provide:
- venue and on-the-ground logistics
- local outreach to relevant audiences
- suggested internal speakers/participants
Interested in hosting an Openness Event?
If your institution is interested in hosting, we’d be happy to discuss possible formats, audiences and timing.
Contact us