Ensuring the social legitimacy of animal research: Comparing public and policy expectations

该项目旨在探索非专业公众如何“想象”英国使用动物进行医学研究的机构的治理。特别令人感兴趣的是，公众对动物福利和伦理审查机构(AWERB)的期望与当前的政策和实践有多大的一致性。所有使用、饲养或供应研究动物的学术和商业组织都必须建立一个本地化的Awerb。在其他任务中，这些委员会寻求“定义、发展和反映他们自己机构的关怀文化”(ASC 2018)。传统上，关于动物实验的公共政策已经在政治科学领域制定。然而，越来越多的学术界认识到，此类政策的牵引力取决于科学本身无法控制的因素(自然2015：5)。公众参与现在被认为是民主合法性和“良好治理”理论的关键先决条件(McLeod&Hobson-West 2016：792)。在动物研究中，考虑到“公民、科学家和国家之间的默契”(Davies Et Al 2016)，这可以说是必需的。作为内政部设立AWERB的要求的一部分，这些委员会的任务是为设立许可证持有者提供“一个讨论和发展道德建议的论坛”，更广泛的目标是“帮助促进更好地理解AWERB的作用和价值”(RSPCA&LASA 2015：50)。然而，到目前为止，初步研究表明，由于缺乏时间/资源，机构很难实现这些目标(Hawkins&Hobson-West 2017：5)。虽然利益攸关方(如皇家防止虐待儿童协会)一直在推动改善AWERB的运作，但在公众对其作用和职权范围的期望和理解方面进行的研究很少。因此，该项目旨在利用社会科学来丰富调查，帮助理解在医学研究中促进、阻碍、改进和改进动物使用的社会和文化过程(RSPCA&LASA 2015：50)，从而为维持“社会契约”提供信息。该项目代表诺丁汉大学和RSPCA之间的合作。DTP是一个1+3年制的社会学课程。因此，第一年将用来完成诺丁汉大学社会科学研究的DTP硕士学位。接下来的三年博士学习将包括对社会学洞察力的批判性文献回顾，以了解科学、监管和公众对动物在研究中的使用的理解。随后将通过一系列焦点小组进一步探讨公众的态度。目前，估计将需要大约6个小组，每个小组由6-8名‘非专业’公众成员组成。该项目将由诺丁汉大学社会学和社会政策学院科学与社会研究所的Pru Hobson-West博士和Dimitris Papadoulos教授共同指导。此外，皇家防止虐待动物协会研究动物部主任彭妮·霍金斯博士将担任项目导师。RSPCA的参与将提供在RSPCA总部实习的机会，这将有助于在实践中加深对动物研究政策和治理的理解。预计该项目将通过更好地了解公众和实验动物科学之间的关系，进一步促进和改善AWERB和动物研究治理的作用的战略。

This project seeks to explore how lay publics 'imagine' the governance of institutions that use animals for medical research in the UK. Of specific interest is how well aligned public expectations of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs) are with current policy and practice. All academic and commercial organisations using, breeding or supplying research animals must set up a localised AWERB. Amongst other tasks, these committees seek to 'define, develop and reflect their own establishments Culture of Care' (ASC 2018).Traditionally, public policy regarding animal experimentation has been developed in the politico-scientific sphere. However, there is increasing academic recognition that the traction of such policies is dependent on factors beyond the control of science alone (Nature 2015 :5). Public involvement is now considered a crucial prerequisite to democratic legitimacy and the doctrine of 'good governance' (McLeod & Hobson-West 2016 :792). In animal research, this is arguably required, given the 'tacit social contract between citizens, scientists and the state' (Davies et al 2016). As part of Home Office requirements for the establishment of AWERBs, the committees were tasked with providing 'a forum for discussion and development of ethical advice to the establishment licence holder', with the wider objective to 'help promote better understanding of the role and value of the AWERB' (RSPCA & LASA 2015 :50). However, as yet, preliminary research suggests that institutions find it difficult to achieve such objectives due to a lack of time/resources (Hawkins & Hobson-West 2017:5). While there has been a push from stakeholders (such as the RSPCA) to help improve the operation of AWERBs, little research has been conducted with regard to public expectations for, and understanding of, their role and remit. Thus, this project seeks to utilise the social sciences to enrich inquiry, to help understand the social and cultural processes that can enhance, impede, improve and refine the use of animals in medical research (RSPCA & LASA 2015 :50), thereby informing the maintenance of the 'social contract'.This studentship represents a collaboration between the University of Nottingham and the RSPCA. The DTP is for a 1+3 year programme of study in the Sociology pathway. Thus, the first year will be spent completing the DTP Masters in Social Science Research at the University of Nottingham. The following three years of doctoral study will consist of critical literature review of sociological insights into scientific, regulatory, and public understanding of the use of animals in research. This will be followed by further exploration of public attitudes through a series of focus groups. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 6 groups will be required, each consisting of 6-8 members of the 'lay' public. This studentship will be co-supervised by Dr Pru Hobson-West and Professor Dimitris Papadopoulos from the Institute for Science and Society at the School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham. Additionally, Dr Penny Hawkins, the head of the RSPCA Research Animals Departments will act as project mentor. The involvement of the RSPCA will provide the opportunity of an internship at the RSPCA headquarters, which will help develop understanding of animal research policy and governance in practice.It is anticipated that the project will lead to strategies to further and improve the role of AWERBs and animal research governance, by better understanding the relationship between publics and laboratory animal science.