Daily Archives: October 18, 2024

Scientists who object to animal testing claim they are frozen out by peers

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseScientists who question the validity of animal experiments are warning that medical progress is being held back because they are being “frozen out” by their peers.A number of scientists based in the US claim they are being censored because of their scepticism, while others are said to be too afraid of the consequences to object to tests on animals.In an industry where evidence is paramount, they warn of a culture of entrenched attitudes instead of open-mindedness.A rhesus macaque monkey infected with the Zika virus

Scientists who object to animal testing claim they are frozen out by peers

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseScientists who question the validity of animal experiments are warning that medical progress is being held back because they are being “frozen out” by their peers.A number of scientists based in the US claim they are being censored because of their scepticism, while others are said to be too afraid of the consequences to object to tests on animals.In an industry where evidence is paramount, they warn of a culture of entrenched attitudes instead of open-mindedness.A rhesus macaque monkey infected with the Zika virus

“Scientists Are Natural Diplomats”

Need science to produce new thoughts 

Petteri Vuorimäki, Senior Arctic Official and Finland’s Ambassador to the Arctic at the Arctic Circle Assembly. (Photo: Birgitte Martinussen)

Petteri Vuorimäki, Senior Arctic Official and Finland’s Ambassador to the Arctic says science is needed to prevent us from repeating the same old thoughts. “I read somewhere that an average human being thinks 60,000 thoughts every day. Only 1,000 of them are new thoughts,” he said.”We need science and scientists to bring us new thoughts. These are the ones that will save us.”Vuorimäki made sure to emphasize the importance of the Arctic Council in regard to science diplomacy:”The Arctic Council was not dead, is not dead, and will not die.””The Arctic Council is perhaps the most important circumpolar format to pursue common work, including in the field of science,” said the diplomat to an engaged audience in the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik.”Despite the problems that we have, science must prevail if we are to prevail.”Bonds of mutual trust and respect

John P. Holdren, Research Professor and Co-Director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center at the Arctic Circle Assembly. (Photo: Birgitte Martinussen)

John P. Holdren, Research Professor and Co-Director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center, says that bonds of mutual trust and respect within the scientific community can have large and unexpected diplomatic benefits when the scientists rise to positions of political influence in their countries.He highlighted several examples of such successful science diplomacy endeavors, including an interaction with a Chinese scientist on air pollution. “As a result of that interaction, he and I became very active in discussions to reach an agreement between the US and China on climate policy. That contributed to the statement by President Jinping and President Obama jointly in Beijing in 2014,  in which the US and China, the world’s biggest economies and emitters of greenhouse gases,  recognized climate change as a surpassing problem for the 21st century and that both were prepared to lead the addressing of the problem globally. “”That statement in 2014 contributed very substantially to the success of the Paris climate agreement a year later. Total serendipity.”

“Scientists Are Natural Diplomats”

Need science to produce new thoughts 

Petteri Vuorimäki, Senior Arctic Official and Finland’s Ambassador to the Arctic at the Arctic Circle Assembly. (Photo: Birgitte Martinussen)

Petteri Vuorimäki, Senior Arctic Official and Finland’s Ambassador to the Arctic says science is needed to prevent us from repeating the same old thoughts. “I read somewhere that an average human being thinks 60,000 thoughts every day. Only 1,000 of them are new thoughts,” he said.”We need science and scientists to bring us new thoughts. These are the ones that will save us.”Vuorimäki made sure to emphasize the importance of the Arctic Council in regard to science diplomacy:”The Arctic Council was not dead, is not dead, and will not die.””The Arctic Council is perhaps the most important circumpolar format to pursue common work, including in the field of science,” said the diplomat to an engaged audience in the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik.”Despite the problems that we have, science must prevail if we are to prevail.”Bonds of mutual trust and respect

John P. Holdren, Research Professor and Co-Director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center at the Arctic Circle Assembly. (Photo: Birgitte Martinussen)

John P. Holdren, Research Professor and Co-Director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center, says that bonds of mutual trust and respect within the scientific community can have large and unexpected diplomatic benefits when the scientists rise to positions of political influence in their countries.He highlighted several examples of such successful science diplomacy endeavors, including an interaction with a Chinese scientist on air pollution. “As a result of that interaction, he and I became very active in discussions to reach an agreement between the US and China on climate policy. That contributed to the statement by President Jinping and President Obama jointly in Beijing in 2014,  in which the US and China, the world’s biggest economies and emitters of greenhouse gases,  recognized climate change as a surpassing problem for the 21st century and that both were prepared to lead the addressing of the problem globally. “”That statement in 2014 contributed very substantially to the success of the Paris climate agreement a year later. Total serendipity.”