American Association for the Advancement of Science
Washington, DC, May 1, 1990

Research conducted on animals "has been and continues to be essential" not only in applied and clinical research, but also in research that "furthers the understanding of biological processes," according to a resolution passed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Board of Directors and Council at the Association's 1990 Annual Meeting in New Orleans in February.

The resolution, sponsored by the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, not only "supports and encourages" research that improves the "well-being of humans and animals" and that can "lead to the cure or prevention of disease," but also notes that "scientists bear several responsibilities for the conduct of research with animals." These responsibilities include treating animals with "proper care and sensitivity," adhering to "relevant laws and regulations," and communicating "respect for animal subjects to employees, students, and colleagues."

At a time when an increasingly activist and well-financed "animal protection" community is publicly challenging the morality and utility of the scientific use of animals, the AAAS resolution states that the Association "has long acknowledged the importance and endorsed the use of animal experimentation in promoting human and animal welfare and in advancing scientific knowledge."

The resolution both "supports appropriate regulation and adequate funding" to ensure the welfare of animals being studied by scientists and "deplores harassment of scientists and technical personnel" engaged in such research and the destruction of laboratory facilities.

The AAAS resolution further notes that "in order to protect the public," safety testing of consumer and medical products sometimes requires the use of animals, but it encourages "the development and use of complementary or alternative" methodologies "where applicable and efficacious." Consistent with the AAAS commitment to excellence in science education, the resolution acknowledges the importance of animals for this purpose as long as teachers are "properly trained in the welfare and use of animals" and the educational institutions are "capable of providing proper oversight."

AAAS RESOLUTION ON THE USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH, TESTING, AND EDUCATION

Whereas society as a whole, and the scientific community in particular, supports and encourages research that will improve the well-being of humans and animals, and that will lead to the cure or prevention of disease; and

Whereas the use of animals has been and continues to be essential not only in applied research with direct clinical applications in humans and animals, but also in research that furthers the understanding of biological processes; and

Whereas the American Association for the Advancement of Science supports appropriate regulations and adequate funding to promote the welfare of animals in laboratory or field situations and deplores any violations of those regulations; and

Whereas the American Association for the Advancement of Science deplores harassment of scientists and technical personnel engaged in animal research, as well as destruction of animal laboratory facilities; and

Whereas in order to protect the public, both consumer and medical products must be tested for safety, and such testing may in some cases require the use of animals; and

Whereas the American Association for the Advancement of Science has long acknowledged the importance and endorsed the use of animal experimentation in promoting human and animal welfare and in advancing scientific knowledge;

BE IT RESOLVED that the American Association for the Advancement of Science continues to support the use of animals in scientific research; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that scientists bear several responsibilities for the conduct of research with animals: (1) to treat their subjects with proper care and sensitivity to their pain and discomfort, consistent with the requirements of the particular study and research objectives; (2) to be informed about and adhere to relevant laws and regulations pertaining to animal research; and (3) to communicate respect for animal subjects to employees, students, and colleagues; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the development and use of complementary or alternative research or testing methodologies, such as computer models, tissue, or cell cultures, be encouraged where applicable and efficacious; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the use of animals by students can be an important component of science education as long as it is supervised by teachers who are properly trained in the welfare and use of animals in laboratory or field settings and is conducted by institutions capable of providing proper oversight; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that scientists support the efforts to improve animal welfare that do not include policies or regulations that would compromise scientific research; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Association for the Advancement of Science encourages its affiliated societies and research institutions to support this resolution.

Joint Resolution Adopted by the AAAS Board and Council February 19, 1990
Sponsored by the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

For more information, contact Deborah Runkle, Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program, 1333 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20005; (202) 326-6600; Fax (202) 289-4950; drunkle@aaas.org.


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