June 2018 Workshop Poster: Mapping histories of laboratory animal research

Author
Rob Kirk & Dmitriy Myelnikov
Publication date

Historians assume that social and cultural phenomena cannot be considered independent of their historical and spatial context. By reconstructing the history of British laboratory animals, we hope to enrich our understanding of the Animal Research Nexus. Our main focus is on the origins, implementation, and impact of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which we investigate by drawing on newly-available archive sources, published literature, ephemera, and a programme of oral history interviews.

Our questions for workshop participants include:

  • How can a richer history of animal research contribute to your work?
  • What key historical episodes are we likely to overlook?
  • What sources might exist in unexpected places?