Date: 
18/12/2009

InterNICHE announces the 2009 Humane Education Award to support ethical and effective life science education and training.

The Award is a grant program to enhance biological science, medical and veterinary medical education and training. Supported by Proefdiervrij, the Award offers 20,000 Euro (US$ 29,000) to be split between successful applicants.

Proposals are invited from all countries for initiatives to replace animal experiments and the dissection of purposely killed animals. Applicants may be teachers, students, campaigners or any other individuals committed to best practice education and training.

Examples of projects that may be funded through the Award include:

  • Development of a new freeware CD-ROM, film, model or mannekin to achieve replacement
  • Purchase of existing alternative products to achieve replacement
  • Establishment of a student-based self-experimentation program to replace animals in physiology practical classes
  • Establishment of a body donation program for securing ethically-sourced animal cadavers to replace animals killed for anatomy or surgery training
  • Establishment of clinical learning opportunities to replace the use of laboratory animals in clinical skills, surgery or other practical classes
  • Establishment of non-invasive field studies to replace the use of laboratory animals in ethology or other practical classes

All applications will be considered equally and judged on their merits. They will be assessed by a panel of experts according to the following criteria:

  • Potential to replace harmful animal use, based on number of animals and/or severity of procedures
  • Potential pedagogic effectiveness, including assessment of student learning performance
  • Innovation, resourcefulness, and overall ethical design
  • Student / trainee involvement at all stages, and carefully considered strategies for implementation and evaluation
  • Broader impact of the project
  • Availability of existing alternative tools, and availability of existing government funds for the development of alternatives

Deadline: 12 February 2010
Extended to 15 March 2010