What do you know? PeTA is at it again. This time their rage is directed at “RoboRoach” — a science project aimed at introducing students to sensory neurophysiology and brain-machine interfaces. Backyard Brains is selling an experiment for educational purposes that illustrates one of the fundamental scientific tools that allow us to restore function in patients … Continue reading Don’t let PeTA bullies control the direction of medical research, education and training
Blocking the Breeding of Beagles is Bad for their Well-Being
While 2013 might be the Chinese year of the Snake, it might be reasonably described as the European year of the research beagle. In the last few years beagles have been moving towards the top of the animal rights agenda. In 2012, activists broke into Marshall breeding facility in Milan, Italy, and carried out dozens … Continue reading Blocking the Breeding of Beagles is Bad for their Well-Being
Closing your eyes may open your heart
A statement of fact can be falsified by presenting a single counterexample. For example, the claim that “Pigs don’t fly” can be proven false by just finding one that does. Similarly, the claim that “we owe the same moral consideration to all sentient living beings” can be falsified by considering scenarios where acting on such … Continue reading Closing your eyes may open your heart
More Charities Doing Animal Research Outreach Right
This is the simple message that Cancer Research UK (CRUK) hope to get across in their new leaflet about why they fund and conduct research on animals. The leaflet covers many important points, including why CRUK uses animal models: Its efforts to replace animal tests: And how animal welfare is maintained: That such research is … Continue reading More Charities Doing Animal Research Outreach Right
Students back animal research
A few weeks ago we mentioned the Big Animal Research Debate, a joint initiative by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) UK, and Understanding Animal Research (UAR) to organise a series of debates on animal research in the UK, US and Ireland, many streamed live on the internet. These universities included 7 of the UK's … Continue reading Students back animal research
(Some) animal rights philosophers say the darndest things!
Cheryl Abbate is a self-described feminist, philosopher and military officer. She is currently a Philosophy PhD student at Marquette University and obtained her MA in Philosophy with Bernard Rollin at Colorado State University. She was one of the animal rights activists who asked me questions during the discussion of my talk at UW Madison. Ms. Abbate … Continue reading (Some) animal rights philosophers say the darndest things!
What is your moral baseline?
I was recently invited to offer a moral justification for the scientific use of animals in medical research at the University of Wisconsin. After the talk we had over an hour of discussion where we saw everything from some thoughtful questions to nonsensical ramble. I presented an argument and I expected direct attacks on those arguments. … Continue reading What is your moral baseline?
Speaking of Research remembers David Hubel
This guest post by Gregory Frank discusses the life and legacy of David Hubel, who was a great advocate for animal research. Hubel won a Nobel Prize in 1981 for his work on brain functions - much of which involved animal research. David Hubel, who passed away this fall at the age of 87, not … Continue reading Speaking of Research remembers David Hubel
Speaking of Research 