Collaboration & Communication
Using the full range of influences wthin the nexus to collaboratively discover emerging challenges for science and society.
AnNex was organized around five different research projects with an overarching strand dedicated to collaboration and communication, which included our integrated programme of public engagement led by creative facilitator Bentley Crudgington.
Through this strand we used nexus thinking to:
- Build capacity across the sciences, social sciences and humanities for interdisciplinary approaches to laboratory animal research through conferences, workshops, and publications, connecting different perspectives and generating shared understandings
- Co-produce new empirical research on the current challenges in animal research, working closely with our advisory committee, project partners and lay-members’ group to shape research questions, analysis and dissemination
- Create resources, events, and platforms for exchange between policy, practitioners and publics through high-quality communications, community-derived guidelines and training for specialists, and dynamic public engagement activities
- To appreciate that any framework is not only a map, but also a list of obstacles, and attend to the full range of influences and powers acting on and shaping bodies within the nexus so we can collaboratively face emerging challenges for science and society
Relevant, tagged site content:
Engagement Activities
Vector is an immersive theatre experience that tasks participants with ethically reviewing the use of animal models in vaccine development.
Publications
This book features highlights from the Animal Research Nexus Programme to demonstrates how the humanities and social sciences can contribute to understanding what is created through animal procedures - including constitutional forms of research governance, different institutional cultures of care, the professional careers of scientists and veterinarians, collaborations with patients and publics, and research animals, specially bred for experiments or surplus to requirements.
Developing the idea of the animal research nexus, this book explores how connections and disconnections are made between these different elements, how these have reshaped each other historically, and how they configure the current practice and policy of UK animal research.
This short report offers a review of some of the literature on reflexive practice in qualitative research teams. In bringing together some of the learnings and resources around team-based reflexivity, this report may offer a useful overview for planning and enacting future team-based research endeavours.
Fish are the third most commonly used protected species in research (Understanding Animal Research, 2021) and are increasingly used in initiatives to engage publics with biomedical research. This workshop was convened in order to explore these developments, share experiences, and assess the challenges and opportunities of including discussion of fish welfare in relevant public engagement activities.
This poster presents through provocations from our public engagement approach, which seek to weave in new perspectives, allow new communities to form and meaningfully connect, so we may collaboratively face emerging challenges for science and society together.
Blog entry
We are excited to announce our new edited volume – Researching Animal Research – forthcoming (January 2024) with Manchester University Press.
At the closing ‘Researching Animal Research’ conference, we were delighted to bring together a set of diverse speakers to discuss perspectives on using creative methods for thinking about animal research.
Vector is an interactive experience, which uses elements of performance, game, and integrated technology to open up dialogue about the ethical dilemmas of using animals as part of medical research.
When you build a world you have the luxury (and burden) of designing everything within it.
On the 21st May, Pru Hobson-West and I dipped our toes into public engagement around animal research at the Nottingham Pint of Science Festival 2019.
March 2019 saw the launch of the AnNex newsletter, a (roughly) quarterly offering to keep stakeholders up to date with the project, and we’ve been deli
There is no qualitative research into public understanding of the origins of research animals, which is a particular area of interest for the Markets and Materials strand.
A directive of the Collaboration and Communication strand of the Animal Research Nexus is to produce dynamic pubic engagement activities that connect different pers
In the Species and Spaces project, we’re exploring people’s perceptions around fish use, sentience, and how these shape and define assumptions around their welfare requirements.
Events
The Animal Research Nexus Programme is hosting a conference entitled 'Researching Animal Research' on 30th – 31st of March at the Wellcome Collection in London.
For many, talking about animal research remains taboo. As a way of highlighting one of the roles that animal research plays, some have suggested labelling medicines as ‘tested on animals’. But is the act of labelling so simple?
Join researchers from the University of Southampton for a family day suitable for all ages.
Where do lab mice come from? Where do they end up? Joins us for crafting felt mice to exchange or take home. You can also explore the history, practices, and ideas of care involved in making laboratory mice.
Where do lab mice come from? Where do they end up? Joins us for crafting felt mice to exchange or take home. You can also explore the history, practices, and ideas of care involved in making laboratory mice.
Take part in live experiments, chat to scientists and get hands-on with innovative activities based on cutting edge research in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Friday 28 September is European Researcher’s night, and for the fourth time Manchester Museum will be hosting Science Uncovered Manchester - a special late opening showcasing Manchester’s finest researchers and their work for an adult audience.
“Hi. How are you?” This is a common greeting used to ask about health, but has anyone ever asked you; “did you come alone?” We’ll be exploring these questions in a short, interactive, one-on-one scenario.
Oxford University’s first Open Doors Community Fair, taking place in the Weston Library’s stunning Blackwell Hall in Broad Street on Saturday 10 September between 1pm and 4pm.
The workshop shall intoduce the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research, explaining its commitments, and the different exceptions around openness.
Announcements
We are delighted to announce that Vector has been selected as a finalist for Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021 in the category Science Engagement.
We are so delighted to announce that the Mouse Exchange has been recognised for its public engagement work by winning the 7th Annual Openness Awards, awarded by the Concorda
Project partners
The Lab Collective create interactive, visceral live experiences; treading the line between theatre, game and installation, The Lab Collective empower the audience to collaborate in our performances.