The use of animals in research remains a contentious, highly emotive and deeply divisive issue. This issue is the subject of the article that Dopico (2017) authored in collaboration with Garcia-Vasquez. In the article, they present technology as a viable and equally effective replacement for labs and call for scientists to demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare by embracing new and exciting technologies.
The article by Dopico and Garcia-Vasquez is indeed relevant to the field of science, technology, society and environment (STSE). Its relevance lies in the fact that this article tackles an issue that has implications for the use of technology in science to improve society while safeguarding the environment. As noted above, these researchers contend that technologies can be used instead of animals to understand various real-world phenomena. The adoption of technology will safeguard animal welfare while promoting the environment thereby presenting gains for society. Personally, I support the calls by Dopico and Garcia-Vasquez to replace animals with technology. I believe that using technology is humane and it allows for the controversy surrounding lab animals to be settled. While I find the article to be enlightening, I think that it fails to fully persuade readers regarding the effectiveness of technology. I doubt that however sophisticated, no technology can fully replace animals. Animals allow researchers to gain an understanding of how different systems function and I do not think that any technology can deliver this benefit. My reflection on the issues that Dopico and Garcia-Vasquez explore is informed by some of my personal experiences. Among these experiences is the brutality that I have witnessed being meted out on animals. This is why I support the use of technology instead of animals in scientific research.
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The reading discussed above is indeed informative. However, it is not adequate to gain a full understanding of the role that technology can play in scientific research. I recommend that this reading be supplemented by the article authored by Passini, Rodriguez and Benito (2018). In the article, these scholars describe how computer simulations can be used in the place of animal testing in research aimed at developing drugs for heart conditions. I recommend this article because it focuses on a specific application of technology. I feel that the discussion on the adoption of technology in research can be enriched through a reflection on the questions listed below:
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What are the drawbacks of using technology instead of lab animals?
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Is technology a sustainable and effective alternative to the animals?
References
Dopico, E., & Garcia-Vasquez, E. (2017). How technology can replace animals in lab practices. In Mueller, M. D., Tippins, D., & Stewart, A. Animals and science education: ethics, curriculum and pedagogy (pp. 135-144). New York: Springer.
Passini, E., Rodriguez, B., & Benito, P. (2018). Should computer simulations replace animal testing for heart drugs? Scientific American. Retrieved March 13, 2019 from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-computer-simulations-replace-animal-testing-for-heart-drugs/
