Launching the 2026 Spotlight Series: Navigating the Uncomfortable
Published: 30 April 2026
On 30 April, the Culture of Care Committee launched its 2026 Spotlight Series, 'Navigating the Uncomfortable', with an online seminar featuring John Meredith from Understanding Animal Research (UAR). Attended by over 30 groups and individuals, the session provided practical tools for communicating animal research transparently. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting a significant boost in confidence.
This dedicated series tackles some of the formidable challenges associated with animal work, providing a safe and open space to approach difficult topics.
For our first session, we were thrilled to host John Meredith from Understanding Animal Research. John delivered a highly compelling and practical seminar focused on communicating animal research to the wider public. This virtual session builds on the success of an in-person workshop John delivered to our technicians earlier this year.
The seminar highlighted why transparency in animal research is vital for public trust, showing how public support shifts based on context and how clearly articulating benefits impacts perception. John provided practical strategies for engaging the public, finding common ground, and confidently addressing tough questions.
The virtual event was highly successful, with approximately 30 login accounts representing both individuals and facility teams joining from across the University. The impact was immediate: 100% of surveyed attendees reported feeling more confident speaking about their work, thanks to Johns down to Earth style and his practical framework for navigating complex conversations.
Thank you to John Meredith for sharing his expertise, and to everyone who attended. Stay tuned for details on our next Spotlight Series event.
First published: 30 April 2026