Openness Conference
Thursday 2 May – Friday 3 May 2024, West Midlands
May 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of the UK’s Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. To celebrate this important landmark for the world’s first transparency agreement, Understanding Animal Research is delighted to host a first-of-its-kind conference dedicated to openness in animal research.
The Openness in Animal Research Conference 2024 is not just for Concordat signatories. We hope to bring together colleagues from across the world who have a professional interest in openness and improving laboratory animal welfare, whether or not they have an openness agreement in place or are working towards one. The conference will be an opportunity to get together, share ideas, celebrate the achievements of the Concordat, and look forward to the next ten years. We hope to see you in 2024!
Call for abstracts and workshop submissions NOW CLOSED
Do you have practical advice on how to communicate openly about animal research? Does your organisation have an innovative, openness in animal research case study to share with the bioscience community? This is your chance to help conference attendees embed change within their own organisations.
Abstracts and workshop proposals should be education-driven and provide practical examples of activities that support openness. The conference is intended to provide a learning opportunity for anyone with a professional interest in openness, so instead of focusing on why openness is important, we want to provide case studies and practical advice, encouraging attendees to implement change within their organisations.
Examples can include but are not limited to the use of new media including websites, podcasts, videos, and social media; traditional media engagement; internal engagement; public engagement, and countering opposition. We are also interested in how the harms and limitations, as well as the benefits, of animal research, have been communicated within these activities.
Submissions will be selected on originality, potential impact, communication, learning and education.
Abstracts
Abstract submission deadline | Monday 2 October 2023 - Submit here!
Abstract submission is invited for either oral or poster presentation.
Oral abstracts
These will be presented within a panel discussion and will run as 60-minute sessions involving 3-4 people speaking back-to-back for 12-15 mins each, with time at the end for Q&A and speaker discussion. The organisers will group selected speakers together into 60-minute panel sessions.
Poster abstracts
Posters will be available to view throughout the programme.
A dedicated poster session will be held on Thursday prior to the conference dinner and will offer a chance for interaction and discussion between poster authors and attendees.
Abstract Submission Application
Workshops
Deadline for submission | Monday 2 October 2023 - Submit here!
Workshops will be run as 50-minute or 1-hour 50-minute sessions.
Audience interaction is actively encouraged within your workshop programme.
Workshop Submission Application
Sponsorship and trade opportunities
We have different packages available for sponsorship and trade opportunities. Please get in touch with Hannah (hhobson@uar.org.uk) to request details.
Coming soon
Registration details and the draft programme.
Stay informed on conference news
Sign up for the Openness in Animal Research conference mailing list to register your interest and receive updates on conference news, including abstract submission details and early-bird ticket registration.