Ken Gordon – Executive Director NWABR How do we talk about our work – the generational changes creating an imperative for transparency! Ken Gordon – Executive Director NWABR

Defining the Generations in the US.

Generational Lenses …. The Net Generation Engaged – but not sure what things mean for them

Edward Snowden

Research with Animals

Animal Research Haven’t found the age breakdown for the 2015 survey. The overall for this measure across the entire sample has moved from 26% believing testing is wrong in 2001 to 39% in 2015. Clothing made of fur 35% morally wrong (3% change only) Cloning animals 60% morally wrong (3% change only) Medical research using stems cells from human embryos 20% morally wrong (a reduction from 39% in 2002) On a separate survey on treatment of animals: 67% of people very or somewhat concerned about animals being used in research. 32% believed animals should have same rights as people (25% in 2008)

Real World Trust Implications Dating Job Seeking (Reference: John, Barasz and Norton. Hiding personal information reveals the worst. PNAS 2016 113: 954-959)

Generational Implications for Trust

We have lost the Trust of Millennials We have done a poor job communicating how our work today directly impacts health NOW. We are perceived as dishonest and closed. The traditional markers of scientific competence: White lab coat Degrees Publications Have less relevance with anyone with an opinion and internet access has the same, if not more, credibility

Planning for the changes…

So what can we do? Marathon – not a sprint We have to get our own houses in order – if there are problems in our institutions we have to deal with them first. We need to implement compassion fatigue programs. We have to realize that we are all linked. If one institution is under attack – then we are all under attack (First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist)

So what can we do? Continued We need to rethink all of our approaches to transparency. Remember for millennials not telling is the same as lying. We need to give our staff coaching on how to talk about their work. And encourage their presentations. Remember – there are a lot of us!

So what can we do? Continued When something is going to go public, let this circle of peers know – encourage this circle to respond to the trolls who comment. I say again – there are a lot of us! If we don’t talk then the negative message is all they here. We need to rethink our facilities so that we can share what we do (e.g. Oregon National Primate Center). This includes sharing with the media.

So what can we do? Finally We need to leverage our IACUC committees. These committees are an amazing resource and they add credibility to research. And … we have to celebrate that we are all committed to the care and welfare of animals in research. Voice of support from a phone message received by David Jentsch (formerly of UCLA, now at SUNY-Binghamton)