09
December
2016
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09:00
Europe/London
Double win for Manchester in Understanding Animal Research's Openness Awards
Animal research infographic
The University of Manchester has won two awards for the way in which it communicates animal research.
Understanding Animal Research’s third Openness Awards took place on Monday, 5 December at the Royal College of Physicians in London.
The University and the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, based at The University of Manchester were among the four institutions and one individual celebrated for having helped further the way in which animal research is communicated in the United Kingdom.
The awards were organised by Understanding Animal Research, a not-for-profit organisation that explains why animals are used in medical and scientific research. It aims to achieve a broad understanding of the humane use of animals in medical, veterinary, scientific and environmental research in the UK.
The judging committee selected examples of best practice that they felt were appropriate to a range of audiences, and which had a component that was original or truly leading in terms of institutional practice.
The University’s new website was a clear winner for the several signatories to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research for the Website Award. The website contains case studies, governance information and facts and figures, designed to inform readers in a transparent manner, while emphasising the culture of care among staff working with animals.
The Concordat informs the University's standards and governance as it seeks to make the progress needed to alleviate human and animal suffering and benefit society. Research at Manchester is underpinned by an understanding of disease mechanisms and the study of immunology, genetics and cell biology, including stem cell therapies.
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I am delighted by this award and very proud of the team who took part in this and also in other public engagement events. It has been a fantastic collaborative effort between PhD students, scientific staff and technical staff from our animal facility.
Professor Richard Marais
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The judges concluded: "Information was accessible and appropriate to a wide range of audiences, but layered and easy to navigate. The material covered was extensive and of an excellent standard, and the infographic and Q&A sections are particularly impressive."
The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, based at The University of Manchester took The Public Engagement Activity Award for their museum event engaging public audiences with cancer research. The judges commented: "The event was hands-on and interactive, with a public audience that was not selected or pre-arranged. The extent of planning and consideration that the initiative must have involved was particularly impressive."
Institute Director Professor Richard Marais said, “I am delighted by this award and very proud of the team who took part in this and also in other public engagement events. It has been a fantastic collaborative effort between PhD students, scientific staff and technical staff from our animal facility.”