Summary 15

Monastersky R. The once-quiet scientist. Nature [Internet]. 2009 Sept 21 [cited 2009 Sept 30]; doi:10.1038/news.2009.929. Available from: http://www.nature.com.mutex.gmu.edu/news/2009/090921/full/news.2009.929.html

Dario Ringach was a research scientist who worked with primates until a few years ago. Rinach was a neuroscientist at the University of California until he began receiving death threats. After a colleague was sent a bomb, he decided to protect his family by giving up his career. Now he is speaking out about what he feels must be done to remedy this problem.
Ringach believes that there are so many people willing to speak out against animal research, but there are so few who are willing to attempt to explain why it is necessary. He says that groups like PETA and celebrities sensationalize the suffering of research animals. If scientists weren't so afraid to educate the public about what happens in research situations, the public would be able to see that it’s not so bad. They want biomedical research to be done but don’t understand that animal testing is a necessary part of that process. Ringach wants research facilities to open their doors so it can be seen that the animals are kept as comfortable and happy as possible. He also wants researchers to be provided with protection from dangerous activists who wish to do them harm. He hopes that his speaking out will make some impact on the opinions of both the research fieldworkers and the public.