Opportunities to engage

We provide a number of opportunities for members of the public to find out more about our research involving animals.

Science Insights

Science Insights is a work experience programme for 5th year high school pupils, which takes place over a week in the summer holidays. The programme provides the opportunity for the pupils to take part in a variety of workshops and lab sessions, enabling them to gain insight into research in biological sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine and how animals are used in this research.

More information on Science Insights

Let's Talk About Health and Disease

Let’s Talk about Health and Disease is a series of public lectures that run annually from October to March.

The talks are aimed at senior school pupils interested in studying medicine, veterinary medicine or the life sciences at university, as well as health professionals and the wider public.

The series allows scientists pioneering new research to share their latest ideas and discoveries with the public. It provides attendees with the opportunity to advance their knowledge of health and the processes associated with disease.

Each lecture includes a Q&A session. Many also include the chance for pupils to meet young researchers during lab tours and interactive workshops. Where relevant, some events include the opportunity to visit animal research facilities at the University. Vets who look after our research animals are available at an information table to talk about their work and how animal research is overseen.

Let's Talk about Health and Disease - More information

Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre

The Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre (EBSOC) runs events to get schools and the wider community involved with science. It seeks to engage them with the research and clinical work happening at The Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Many of these events involve staff and postgraduate students, who talk about their research involving animals.

EBSOC also offers free, downloadable teaching resources for teachers, including the “Animal Behaviour Toolkit – Opening a Can of Worms”. This free online resource helps teachers to support their students to carry out investigations of animal behaviour using earthworms. The toolkit includes guidance on how to make the most of scientific methods and how to apply the 3Rs.

More information about the tool-kit and other EBSOC activities can be found on their website.

Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre

Edinburgh Science Festival

Staff and students from the University of Edinburgh contribute to many of the events at the annual Edinburgh Science Festival. Sharing information about how and where animals are used in research is part of our contribution. In 2019 we ran a panel event on alternatives to using animals in research and talked about how animals are used in research as part of our drop-in activities at the National Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh Science Festival - Home

Additional activities

University researchers run a variety of outreach projects with a focus on community engagement. Many of these include information about the use of animals in research.

Institute of Genetics and Cancer - Public events and resources

The Roslin Institute - Community Engagement

Edinburgh Neuroscience - Outreach

Centre for Inflammation Research - Information for the public

Centre for Regenerative Medicine - Community Science Engagement

Centre of Cardiovascular Science - Public Involvement and Resources