Dinner & Dialogue: Should Animal Testing Be Phased Out?

Laboratory research using non-human animal subjects has traditionally played a central role in biology and medicine, among other fields, but regulators and funding agencies in 2025 began a push towards alternatives.  The UK government announced ambitious plans to “phase out” animal testing and the US Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health stopped offering grants that use only animal models of human disease and health.  Are these policies wise?  To what extent should scientific or medical knowledge generation be sacrificed for the sake of non-human animal welfare?  Do animals have rights that scientists need to work around?  Does animal testing inherently treat non-human animals as less important than humans? Join us for a conversation between Anne Baril (Philosophy) and Erik Herzog (Biology) that will take a nuanced look at both sides of these questions.

Light dinner will be served.  All are welcome for this free and unticketed event. 

Seating and food are limited; arrive early to ensure a seat!

This event is organized by the Civil Society Initiative at WashU and is sponsored by the Frick Initiative and the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.