Professor Emma Robinson has been awarded the Understanding Animal Research (UAR) Professor Sir Colin Blakemore Memorial Award. The accolade recognises an individual from a UAR Concordat signatory organisation who has worked to improve public understanding of how and why animals are used in research in the UK.

Professor Robinson impressed the awarding judges for going above and beyond normal expectations in raising awareness and public understanding by speaking about animal research at the Bristol Neuroscience Festival.

Despite this being at a time when the University was under pressure from campaigners, Professor Robinson presented an evening lecture, where she explained to the public about how research involving animals is used to understand and treat mental health disorders.

Emma Robinson, Professor of Psychopharmacology in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University, said: “I am honoured to have received this award. I am appreciative of the work Understanding Animal Research does to support the animal research community, and in its efforts in providing the public with access to information about animal research.

“It can be quite daunting talking about this ethically challenging topic, but I feel strongly that as researchers, we should be open and transparent and provide everyone with opportunities to talk with those involved in animal research.”

The Professor Sir Colin Blakemore Memorial Award was presented to Professor Emma Robinson by Sally Robinson, AWERB Chair at the University of Bristol and Cancer Research UK, Manchester Institute.