Creative pedagogic methods for self-guided embodied thinking and learning about animal research.

Area of Science:

• Science communication
• Animal research ethics
• Public engagement

Background:

• Existing public engagement with animal research often relies on self-selected participants and focuses on defending principles.
• Current approaches may overlook the diverse practices within the animal research industry.
• A didactic communication style can create a hierarchy between experts and the public.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how curiosity and creativity can engage diverse publics with complex issues in animal research.
• To conceptualize and illustrate embodied creative methods for co-creating knowledge about animal research.
• To challenge traditional knowledge acquisition models in public engagement.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualization and illustration of embodied creative methods.
• Presentation of three case studies: artwork creation, 'The Mouse Exchange' workshop, and 'Care-full stories' workshop.
• Analysis of contemporary engagement efforts in animal research.

Main Results:

• Embodied creative methods foster curiosity and help overcome anxieties, enabling deeper engagement with animal research.
• These methods allow for the exploration of experiences and knowledge-making in novel ways.
• Initiatives sensitively surface the complexities of human-animal relationships in research.

Conclusions:

• Embodied creative methods offer a valuable alternative to traditional, didactic approaches in animal research engagement.
• Such creative engagements may require updated recognition within frameworks like the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research.
• An evolved vision of openness in animal research is needed, embracing creative and embodied engagement.