A new report in Nature suggests that domestic cats, primarily un-owned, are responsible for an estimated 6.9 to 20.7 billion animal deaths every year. While the majority of animals killed were by strays, feral and farm cats, a significant number were from pet cats. Here we conduct a systematic review and quantitatively estimate mortality caused … Continue reading It’s a Cat-astrophe
Month: January 2013
Speaking of Research return to Trinity College Dublin
In 2009, Speaking of Research founder, Tom Holder, spoke at a debate on animal research at the College Historical Society at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) - a student debating union that lays claim to be the oldest student society in the world. On that occasion, the motion against animal research was roundly defeated - with … Continue reading Speaking of Research return to Trinity College Dublin
Nine out of ten Statistics are taken out of Context
This guest post is by Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, who is head of the division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics at the Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research in London. This is a very clear and thorough debunking of a common animal rights myth where they suggest that because nine out of … Continue reading Nine out of ten Statistics are taken out of Context
“Why I am a Laboratory Animal Veterinarian”
Today's guest post is by Kelly Walton DVM, a third year student of comparative medicine at Colorado State University. Kelly explains why her love of animals led her to a career in laboratory animal welfare. The views expressed below are that of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of her employer … Continue reading “Why I am a Laboratory Animal Veterinarian”
2013 AMP Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach
Today's guest post is from Elizabeth Reitz, who is the program director for Americans for Medical Progress. They are now starting their 2013 Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach - a great program which played a huge part in starting Speaking of Research in 2008. Please share this with friends and colleagues. Americans for … Continue reading 2013 AMP Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach
New UK Animal Research Law is a Victory for Animals and Scientists
As the science correspondent of a top UK newspaper said to me earlier this year “Call me cynical, but there are very few things that kill a story quite like having “EU Directive” in the title.” He was referring of course to the snappily-titled “Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of … Continue reading New UK Animal Research Law is a Victory for Animals and Scientists
Opening Doors and Minds: Introducing Students to Science, Medicine and Research
University of Minnesota students, Jessi Coryell and Kyle Walburg, and their Program Director, Prof. Richard Bianco spell out the importance of laboratory outreach - something Speaking of Research is a great supporter of. The better informed the next generation is about animal research, the less likely they will become objectors to this important research tool.
Similarity of Anti-Vaccination and Anti-Animal-Testing Arguments
While reading Edzard Ernst's fantastic blog I came across a list of "common anti-vaccination tropes" that originated in a 2012 paper by A. Kata. What's interesting is that nearly every argument could be used by an animal rights activist if you simply switch the word "vaccination" to "medicine". So: 1. I am not anti-medicine, I … Continue reading Similarity of Anti-Vaccination and Anti-Animal-Testing Arguments
Speaking of Research 