InterNICHE honoured for replacement of animal experiments
InterNICHE honoured for replacement of animal experiments in RSPCA Award
The RSPCA has conferred upon Nick Jukes of InterNICHE the prestigious Lord Erskine Silver Award.
At the RSPCA Honours ceremony in Horsham (UK) on 3 September, Chair of the RSPCA Council Michael Tomlinson and actor Brian Blessed presented the Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the field of animal welfare.
Mr Tomlinson acknowledged the tireless efforts of Nick and of InterNICHE as a whole in the field of humane education and alternatives to animal experiments. He described how a network based almost entirely on voluntary input had been built up to a global level by harnessing the enthusiasm of local contacts. InterNICHE outreach has often provided the first significant exposure to alternatives in some countries, and widespread replacement has been achieved by working with teachers and students.
Nick Jukes said today:
My work involves helping to realise the vision of a fully humane education in medicine, veterinary medicine and biological science. InterNICHE campaigns internationally to replace dissections and animal experiments with innovative alternatives whose pedagogical, ethical and economic advantages benefit students, the professions, and animals.
Winning this Award means a great deal. It is a valuable recognition of the many successes achieved in replacing harmful animal use in education and training across the world. It acknowledges the impressive commitment of and huge voluntary effort by the whole InterNICHE team, and reflects the growing momentum for the implementation of humane alternatives.
The Award was established in memory of Lord Erskine, who successfully steered Richard Martin's Bill "to prevent the cruel and improper treatment of cattle" through the House of Lords. The Bill became law in 1822 and formed the foundation for subsequent statutes for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Other recipients of the 2011 RSPCA Honours include Jill Robinson from Animals Asia, Wu Hung from EAST in Taiwan, and journalist Danny Penman.
