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Events in Autumn 2026

 

 

 

 

The 3R Center Rhein-Neckar (Mannheim) warmly invites animal care staff and technical personnel working in laboratory animal research to participate in two upcoming workshops:

“Animal Welfare Ethics in Everyday Practice” and “Communication in Animal Research”

These two practice-oriented workshops address key challenges encountered in the daily work of laboratory animal research. Both focus on fostering a Culture of Care—a culture of compassion and responsibility towards both animals and people—and explore how ethical reflection and effective communication can support responsible practices.

Workshop I: Animal Welfare Ethics in Everyday Practice – Fostering Care and Responsibility Together

November 27, 2026 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: University Medical Center Mannheim, Alte Brauerei, S14

How can we put ethical responsibility towards laboratory animals into practice in our daily work? What ethical questions and challenges arise when caring for and working with laboratory animals?

Together, we will reflect on real-life situations, explore possible courses of action, and develop initial approaches to ethical guidelines for everyday practice.

Workshop topics:

  • Fundamental principles of animal welfare ethics and their relevance to daily work

  • Care and responsibility as essential elements of a Culture of Care

  • Ethical and emotional challenges when working with laboratory animals: practical examples from everyday work

  • Developing key elements for internal ethical guidelines

Workshop II: Communication in Animal Research – Strengthening Exchange and Fostering Dialogue

December 11, 2026 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: University Medical Center Mannheim, Alte Brauerei, S14

How can we foster open and trusting communication within teams and across different professional groups? And how can we communicate animal research clearly and transparently to the wider public?

This workshop provides an opportunity to reflect on communication challenges in everyday work and develop practical strategies for respectful and constructive dialogue.

Workshop topics:

  • Communication as a foundation for animal welfare, teamwork, and research quality

  • Active listening, understanding different perspectives, and supporting colleagues: addressing concerns, ethical questions, and emotional challenges constructively

  • Communicating animal research transparently and clearly, both internally and externally: practical exercises and guidance on developing shared principles for a constructive communication and dialogue culture

About the Workshop Facilitator: Dr. med. vet. Fabienne Ferrara

Dr. Ferrara is a veterinary specialist in laboratory animal science and holds a master's degree in Medicine, Ethics and Law.

Through ConScienceTrain, she supports individuals and organizations involved in animal research as a consultant, trainer, and facilitator.

Her work focuses on fostering a Culture of Care, combining compassion and responsibility towards animals and people with high-quality science. Her areas of expertise include animal welfare ethics, trust-based communication, and addressing emotional challenges in laboratory animal research.

In her workshops, she combines expert insights with collaborative reflection and practical approaches that participants can apply in their everyday work.

Registration and Practical Information

  • Registration: Please register by email at tierschutzbuero@medma.uni-heidelberg.de. The two workshops can be attended independently.

  • Registration deadline: November 18, 2026. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Participants: Limited to 20 participants per workshop.

  • Time and venue: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM (including a break), University Medical Center Mannheim, Röntgenstraße 7, Alte Brauerei, S14 (ground floor), 68167 Mannheim.

  • Participation: Free of charge, including drinks and light refreshments.

  • Certificates of attendance will be provided.

The workshops are generously funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg as part of its funding programme “Supporting Activities for the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (3Rs) of Animal Experiments.”

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6R Workshop: Boost Your Research – Robustness, Registration and Reporting

On November 19–20, 2026, the 3R Center Rhein-Neckar will host a practice-oriented 6R workshop at the Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI) in Mannheim.

The workshop focuses on three complementary principles—Robustness, Registration and Reporting—which, together with the established 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement), contribute to high-quality, reproducible preclinical research.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore practical methods, exchange experiences, and apply the approaches discussed directly to their own research projects.

Key information:

  • Date: November 19–20, 2026

  • Venue: Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Mannheim

  • Participation: Free of charge

  • Catering: Food and refreshments will be provided.

  • Travel and accommodation: Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation expenses.

  • Registration deadline: October 31, 2026

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https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/einrichtungen/ibf/service/seminare.html

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https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/calendar-node-field-event-date/month

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