News

Thank you for being a compassionate part of our mission to promote humane science and end animal research. Today, we’re excited to share a powerful student perspective from Keerthana Rajesh, a NAVS Humane Science Award winner at the 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair. Her inspiring work demonstrates the global impact of humane science education, and we hope her story motivates you as much as it has inspired us.

We’re also thrilled to announce the upcoming release of our Laboratory Animal Care Audit. Subscribe now to get your copy! And don’t forget to check out the recommended reads below for mission-related information we think you’ll find interesting.

Once again, thank you for your continued support. Together, we’re making compassion for animals a reality!

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STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: How Humane Science Can Change a Student’s Life

The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity

Q: Describe your educational experience in science. What did teachers and schools emphasize to help you become a better science student?

Keerthana: The biggest takeaways I have from learning science in the classroom include inquiry, collaboration, and open mindedness. My teachers always encouraged reading outside the classroom, which made me interested in consuming scientific articles, literature, and media. Moreover, we have a sense of community and teamwork within the classroom especially during project and experimental work. Finally, we tend to discuss a lot of perspectives and diverging ideas within science and express our opinions while also respecting others’.

Q: How did your education in science influence your work on the project you presented at ISEF?

Keerthana: What impacted me most in my education was a sense of purpose towards meaningful work. To me this meant focusing on cancer side effects, which aren’t given much importance within mainstream medical discourse and are overshadowed by other more “popular” conditions. I recognized a high incidence of oral mucositis within the Indian patient community and the limited treatment options that are inaccessible to most, and I wanted to solve that. Because I could see this firsthand at a cancer hospital, I felt very driven by my empathy and curiosity, which are also values greatly instilled in me through my education.

Q: In the US, animal dissection is commonly used to teach anatomy and physiology. How do students in India learn this topic since there is a ban on animal dissection in your country?

Keerthana: In 2011, a partial ban was imposed in India, allowing only teacher demonstrations in high school and dissections of unprotected species at the graduate level. Now, dissection is completely banned in high schools and extended to colleges, including medical and veterinary disciplines, allowing only cadaver dissections at specific times.

In high school, we rely mainly on theory. In grades 9 and 10, we learned human physiology through scientific illustrations and simulations. Testing emphasized visualizations and accurately drawing organs to understand spatial arrangement, like showing proportion in the thickness of membranes and the size of valves and vessels. We also studied the location, structure, and function of organs and tissues, including their appearance and specific adaptations for functions.

Currently, I’m studying in the International Baccalaureate diploma program, which has ethical guidelines prohibiting any harm to animals. We have preserved human organs, a life-sized skeleton model, and some taxidermy specimens in the school lab. However, some argue that tech-based alternatives are not sustainable for India’s diverse population, as they aren’t cost-effective or accessible enough in underdeveloped areas.

Q: What can be done to help students pursue their passions and learn more about doing research without harming animals?

Keerthana: Many students, even in my country, see animal dissections and testing as necessary or even fascinating. There’s also a belief that animal testing is essential for the “greater good” due to historical precedence and the lack of popularized alternative research methods. Changing this mindset is key.

While in-vitro biology allowed me to perform detailed analysis within cellular interactions and gene expressions, it’s hard to eliminate the use of animals like mice for drug testing without ethical, accessible, cost-effective, and efficient alternatives. Extensive research and resources are needed for this.

At the high school level, I haven’t been adversely affected by the lack of animal dissection. In student research, more restrictions should be imposed on using animals. Alternatives like molecular, cellular, and plant biology, or in-silico models, can be promoted to encourage rigorous yet ethical research.

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Coming Soon: Laboratory Animal Care Audit

We’re excited to introduce the Laboratory Animal Care Audit, a first-of-its-kind report that details the violations and fines associated with research facilities across the country. After months of work compiling and organizing the information, it is almost ready to be shared with advocates everywhere.
Interested in seeing it first? Make sure you are subscribed to our email list to be the first to receive the report!

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Recommended Reading & Media

Here are some thought-provoking articles and media we believe are worth your time:

• From JSTOR Daily: The Dangers of Animal Experimentation—for Doctors
• From STAT News: End the ‘forced swim test’ on mice for antidepressant research
• From The Hill: VA halts cat and dog research, a win for animal advocates

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