Released August 7, 2008

SCAW NCAB/AALAS Technician Award 2008

Erika Weaver, ALAT is the recipient of the first 2008 SCAW NCAB/AALAS Technician Award.  Ms Weaver is an Animal Care Technician, Non-human Primates, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense in Edgewood, MD.

The Award will help to defray the cost of attending the annual NCAB/AALAS meeting on September 17-18, 2008 at Turf Valley, Maryland.  SCAW will provide one two-day conference registration, one night hotel reservation and one banquet ticket.  Six applications were received and all reflect the excellent training and attitude of animal care technicians; it was difficult to select a winner of the Award.

 All applicants were asked to write a paragraph to explain “Why the animal care technician is an important part of the research team”.  Ms. Weaver wrote:

 “Animal care technicians are an essential aspect of any successful research program.  It is imperative that all laboratory animals, large and small, have conscientious and compassionate people behind them to meet all of their needs on a daily basis.  The animals depend on the diligence of their caretaker.  Without their continual attentiveness to detail, unwanted variables could be introduced into an experiment, potentially making the final outcome invalid.  Valuable time, effort and the lives of animals could be wasted as a result of these variables.  Serving as the eyes, ears and voices of the animals, the animal care technicians are the primary ones who evaluate animal health, detect problems with environmental conditions, and notice any other abnormalities on a daily basis.  They are the first and last ones to come into contact with the animals each day.  While being challenged by continuous changes and facility issues that are beyond their control, it is imperative that they continually strive to initiate efficient and effective ways of completing their tasks.  Animal care technicians are the foundation for any successful research mission.”

Mission Statement

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) is composed of research professionals dedicated to balancing animal welfare and excellence in basic and applied scientific inquiry.  SCAW recognizes that some research areas present challenges regarding animal use. SCAW affirms that the potential benefit to humans and animals from research and the cost to the animal subject(s) must both be considered.  By addressing animal research challenges directly through education and training, SCAW serves to facilitate open discussion and helps craft solutions as well as promote best practices. Through its outreach to the broader research community, SCAW demonstrates its commitment to excellence in animal care and science. 

SCAW also sponsors an educational Winter Conference and many Seminars/Workshops each year. SCAW will continue to be a major source for fulfilling the training requirements stated in USDA/APHIS/AC Policy 15 that states "IACUC members should be trained in understanding the Animal Welfare Act, protocol review and facility inspections.” Please click on the above tabs to see upcoming educational programs and SCAW publications.