“Animal experiments evoke mixed feelings, and animal experimentation issues are complex. At the same time, those who work with research and research issues have an important responsibility to provide information about animal experiments, laws and regulations, and ethics,” says Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt. She is Secretary-General for Medicine and Health at the Swedish Research Council and the person responsible for the content of djurforsok.info.
The site is visited mainly by teachers and young people in secondary schools. In addition to information on what animal experiments are, how and why they done, laws and regulations, the site has an extensive section on ethics. There are also several exercises and activities for schools with accompanying teacher guides.
Focus on users
Before redesigning the website, an extensive feasibility study was carried out, including interviews with users. The site was then designed and developed with functionality based on users’ needs.
The cooperation is structured around a steering group, a responsible editor and an advisory editorial board. Uppsala University has a representative on the steering group and the editorial board.
The Swedish Research Council is responsible for the content, operation and editorial work and covers one third of the costs. The higher education institutions bear the remaining costs.
If you have tips, questions or comments about the the website, please send them to redaktionen@djurforsok.info.