Talk: "I am not sure I want to do this…: students’ emotional perspective on animal experiments" at FELASA conference in Athens

At the session titled “Do I have a choice? Reconciling personal and professional ethics in laboratory animal science training” Augusto Vitale presented a talk called “I am not sure I want to do this…: students’ emotional perspective on animal experiments”.

In this presentation he presented qualitative results form the interviews with 16 students at the istituto Superiore4 di Sanità in Rome. The interviews focused on the potential emotional difficulties encountered with experimental animals, and the way to solve such difficulties. The self-trust in carrying out such procedures in a professional manner was the main factor tu overcome the unpleasentness of the procedures. The sacrifice of animals resulted to be the most critical aspect. The majority of respondants can do it, when they manage to put aside the emotional aspect of killing a living being, and put forward the need for science. The ones who cannot follow this mental process will not sacrifice animals. Related to this, it appeared that one-on-one relationship with a tutor or supervisor was by far preferred to the participation in organised courses.

The crucial factors in addressing by staff members emotional distress in students were: give time and respect; never force anybody to do anything they dont feel like doing; understanding emotional diversity; empathy and dissipation of fears; re-locate tasks within a project.