Encyclopedia of animal rights and animal 51

8

| Alternatives to Animal Experiments in the Life Sciences

The limitations of harmful animal use
and the advantages of new approaches are
illustrated by the many published studies
comparing conventional methods with
alternatives. In almost all cases, the alternatives are shown to be equivalent or
superior in terms of student and trainee
performance. Moreover, assessing how
effectively teaching objectives are met
requires an identification of a broader
range of teaching objectives beyond the
standard, and must address the negative messages of the hidden curriculum.
These include the lessons that instrumental use of animals is acceptable, and that
compassion, respect for life, and ethical
concerns as a whole are unimportant—or
even obstacles to effective education and
training.

Awareness, Objection and Innovation
Some students may even choose not
to study the life sciences at the university level because of an awareness of the
harm caused to animals in many classes.
This results in a loss to the related professions of some of the most sensitive and
critical-thinking students. Desensitization
of students who do enter these classes is a
damaging consequence of harmful animal
use, and self-aware students may recognize this psychological process. Students
who find that practices are against their

ethical positions or religious beliefs may
face academic or psychological penalties
from teachers if they challenge the status
quo. However, informed and responsible
conscientious objection can be a powerful
catalyst in resolving ethical conflicts in
education and in implementing progressive teaching methods, clearly illustrating
the intersection of animal rights and civil
rights.

Despite the inertia of convention, the
replacement of harmful animal use with
other methods has been gaining momentum
around the world. Progressive, humane alternatives have now fully replaced animal
experiments and dissections in a growing
number of university departments. Technological innovation, particularly the development of multimedia software and its
potential to support the learning process,
has played a major role in this ongoing revolution. The economic advantages of using
alternatives, and the broader social and cultural changes in favor of ethical treatment
of animals, also contribute.

Types of Alternatives
Alternatives, therefore, are progressive
learning tools and teaching approaches
that can replace harmful animal use or
complement existing humane education.
They include non-animal learning tools
as well as alternative approaches that are
neutral or beneficial to individual animals.
Often developed by teachers themselves,

and typically used in combination, alternatives include:
Mannequins and Simulators Lifelike mannequins can support effective
training of clinical skills such as taking
blood, intubation, and the management
of critical care scenarios. The perfusion
of ethically sourced organs in advanced
simulators allows for realistic surgery
practice from student to professional
level. By allowing repeated practice, these
alternatives enable students and trainees
to gain the confidence and competence
necessary to work with real patients.
Multimedia Software andVirtual Reality
(VR) Visualization and understanding of