A new document was recently released to help improve the protection of academic researchers who might face intimidation, harassment, and physical attack by fringe anti-animal research extremists. The Society for Neuroscience (SfN), the world’s largest organization of scientists and physicians who study the brain and nervous system released the document Best Practices for Protecting Researchers and Research: Recommendations for Universities and Institutions. The document provides a set of specific and proactive steps that organizations can take to protect their employees, while also advancing scientific knowledge and medical progress.
The document outlines ways researchers can provide public leadership and public commitment to researchers and the research enterprise; develop and implement security protocols and relationships in advance of attacks; and support policy and public communication solutions at the federal, state, and local levels.
The number of harassment and threats has increased. SfN members reported more attacks in the first six months of 2007 than in the five-year period from 1999 to 2003.
“The continuing intimidation and threats of violence to which researchers have been subjected are beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse and debate,” said Jeffrey Kordower, PhD, Chair of the SfN Committee on Animals in Research. “In recognition of that fact, the U.S. Congress passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act to prohibit such action, and we now urge universities to add their efforts to ensure that researchers have a safe environment in which to pursue their vital work.”