Understanding Animal Research launched the Openness Awards to celebrate the achievements of the sector in honouring their commitment to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. The Openness Awards seek to recognise those individuals who have championed openness in animal research over the years, and those who continue to do so. The Concordat is driven by passionate and committed individuals who work hard to ensure that animal research is recognised both within their organisations and among stakeholders and the public.
The awards take place every December and coincide with the Stephen Paget Memorial Lecture. Six months before the awards, signatories are asked to nominate themselves. An independent judging committee deliberate the nominations and winners are announced at the annual awards ceremony.
Judging committee
Hannah Hobson (UAR)
Karen Gardner (BBC)
Chris Petkov (University of Newcastle)
Barney Reed (RSPCA)
Emma Roe (University of Exeter)
Clare Stanford (UCL)
Professor Sir Colin Blakemore Memorial Award
In memory of Professor Sir Colin Blakemore, with the blessing of his family and with funding from the Biomedical Research Education Trust, the Professor Sir Colin Blakemore Memorial Award recognises an individual from a signatory organisation who has worked to improve public understanding of how and why animals are used in the UK.
The inaugural award was presented in December 2023 by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, Dean for Research in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, to Aimee Paterson, Small Animal Facility Supervisor at the Babraham Institute.
Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Openness in Animal Research
When deemed necessary by staff members and the Council at Understanding Animal Research, an award for an outstanding individual may also be presented.
Openness Awards 2024
The 2024 Openness Awards will take place on Monday 2 December in London.