Humane Education in Brazil: Organisation, Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Humane education and the debate on alternatives to harmful animal use for training is a relatively recent issue in Brazil. While animal use in secondary education has been illegal since the late 1970s, animal use in higher science education is widespread. However, alternatives to animal experiments in research and testing have recently received attention from the Government, especially after the first legislation on animal experiments was passed, in 2008. This article proposes that higher science education should be based on a critical and humane approach. It outlines the recent establishment of the Brazilian Network for Humane Education (RedEH), as a result of the project, Mapping Animal Use for Undergraduate Education in Brazil, which was recognised by the 2014 Lush Prize. The network aims to create a platform to promote change in science education in Brazil, starting by quantitatively and qualitatively understanding animal use, developing new approaches adapted to the current needs in Brazil and Latin America, and communicating these initiatives nationally. This paper explores the trajectory of alternatives and replacement methods to harmful animal use in training and education, as well as the status of humane education in Brazil, from the point of view of educators and researchers engaged with the network.

Animal use in pharmacy undergraduate pharmacology laboratories: Students’ perceptions and need assessments

“…Many research studies have been conducted since the early 2000s, focusing mainly on undergraduate students’ perception of animal use in education. This body of literature helped establish animal use as a controversial issue in the educational context in many countries around the world, highlighting the need for the promotion of a more humane approach to science education (Bachinski et al, 2015, Bachinski et al, 2017, Simkin et al, 2017).…”

Humane Education: The Tool for Scientific Revolution in Brazil

“…-Since 2006, the Higher Education Center of Campos Gerais at Paraná State has involved veterinary medicine students in helping develop non-animal models as part of their physiology classes to increase their knowledge and problem-solving skills. In 2015, 27 low-cost models were presented by students to their classmates, including models of renal circulation, respiratory homeostasis, the digestive system of ruminants and non-ruminants, ovulation, spermatogenesis, and synapses (Bachinski et al, 2015;Ruiz, 2014). Students then perform surgeries on live animal patients who need certain procedures or who are to be neutered or spayed.…”

“…Adding to this issue, there is still no way to gather information about and assess, officially, the situation of animal use in Brazil. Information on numbers, species, procedures, and degree of invasiveness is not publicly available, although a database for this kind of information may be under construction (Bachinski et al, 2015).…”

“…Alongside these actions, both teachers and students need to monitor the availability of alternative methods and legal mechanisms for greater protection of animals used in education. Approaches that involve students in the development of animal-free methods should be a vital part of academic and vocational training (Bachinski et al, 2015).…”

“…As a final note, the work of the Brazilian Network for Humane Education (RedEH) needs to be acknowledged. Starting in 2015, this network provides a platform to connect researchers and teachers from various science and educational institutions across the country to engage in promoting scientific education on the replacement of animals used in education and training activities (RedEH: Bachinski et al, 2015). RedEH's main objective is the development and dissemination of new teaching methods and public policies in Brazil and sharing teaching experiences without the involvement of animal harm.…”