In light of some of my recent work activities, it felt pertinent this week to write about the ways in which we promote our work to scientists.

It is also inspired by the title quote, which is linked to the 1989 film ‘Field of Dreams’ where, after hearing a ghostly voice in a cornfield say ‘if you build it, he will come’, Kevin Costner’s character builds a baseball field. The film is primarily about a man’s relationship with his father; it ends, however, with hordes of people arriving at the baseball pitch, as prophesied, to watch a baseball game… that was never promoted.

In parallel, here at Replacing Animal Research, when we create, or ‘build’ something, people don’t automatically know about its existence, or even our existence. We therefore have to promote our work in the right way, so that the right people know about it. Even though, unlike the planned baseball game in the film, our tools are free!

What are we ‘building’?

Two of the main tools we want to signpost to the scientific community are our Replacement Checklist and Replacement searching guidance. We want to help scientists to avoid animal use by ensuring they have thoroughly explored opportunities to utilise non-animal methods and replace animal use in their research projects.

Who do we want to ‘come’ and use these tools?

People need to know we are here and what we can offer.  We want to communicate this to a broad cross-section of scientists across disciplines, specialities and disease-specific research areas. If animals are being used or considered, then our replacement tools are relevant.

We obviously need to talk to those using animals, but we also want to speak to those working in non-animal techniques, to raise awareness of our work and encourage skill sharing and multidisciplinary approaches to replacement. Scientists can support and champion replacement even if their research has nothing to do with animals.

It should not, therefore, be a surprise to know that we attend events and conferences aimed at both those working with animals and those working to develop replacements.  This is not, however, the whole picture. Many of the scientists we want to reach are somewhere in the middle. Some replacement champions may also use animals in some of their work, and many researchers using animals will also utilise a range of non-animal approaches in other projects. Some researchers will not see themselves as part of either the ‘replacement’ or ‘animal using’ community, and many working on the development of modern non-animal research techniques are doing so to advance cutting-edge science, for example, to benefit human health, not specifically to avoid animal use or develop replacements.

We want to be able to engage with all these stakeholders effectively, to signpost our tools and support.

Examples of how we are getting the word out

We are finding that word of mouth is the most effective marketing tool.  The more we present or provide free training for organisations, the more requests and invites we are getting.

I was invited to Lancaster University earlier this month to present at the UK Society for   Biomaterials Conference and talk about our work. This is the first time I have spoken at a science conference with no specific link to Replacement, the 3Rs, or laboratory animals. It went well and generated some interesting and useful conversations. This is exciting as it bodes well for future talks in similar forums.

Over the summer, we had an abstract accepted for a Flash talk at the European Animal Research Association (EARA) Conference in November. Again, a chance to speak to a new audience, EARA are a communication and advocacy organisation, rather than an organisation providing guidance around the 3Rs and laboratory animal use.  Whilst we don’t support EARSA’s aims, this is an opportunity to raise awareness of our replacement support among researchers based at leading research organisations from across Europe.

We’ve built it, will you come?

We want to reach even more people with these simple, helpful and (once again) FREE tools. If you can help us get the word out, then please share our tools, share this blog, or if you would like Replacing Animal Research to talk at your event or conference please get in touch. We love speaking to new audiences and sharing how even simple changes can have a massive impact!