Learning from the students : the impact of the JRC Summer school : non-animal approaches in science : survey results

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre is hosting the European Union Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) as mandated by Directive 2010/63 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. EURL ECVAM has been dedicated to advancing the Three Rs - Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement of animal experiments for over 30 years with the scope of eventual phasing out of the use of animals in research, education and regulatory testing. As part of their efforts, EURL ECVAM organises a biennial Summer School on Non-animal Approaches in Science, aimed at post-graduate students and early-career scientists. The Summer School, initiated in 2017, focuses on sharing knowledge about non-animal methods and technologies in science. It also provides insights into the current and future roles of the Three Rs and explores career paths in non-animal approaches in science. Since its inception, four Summer Schools have trained over 400 post-graduate students worldwide. To gauge its impact, EURL ECVAM conducted a survey among alumni. Results show that a majority of respondents indicated that the Summer School had influenced their current research or career. A greater part of them contribute to non-animal approaches in their current professional activities by actively developing Non-Animal Methods (NAMs) and encouraging others to use NAMs. Moreover, almost all respondents expressed a high likelihood of recommending the Summer School to young students and researchers. Many shared achievements attributed to their participation, such as increased involvement in non-animal methods research and knowledge sharing within international research communities. The survey also provided valuable feedback for enhancing future Summer School editions.