On tour through Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan 2012

With a lecture and presentation tour, we informed eight universities in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan about the possibilities of animal-free education

Part 1: Uzbekistan

With a lecture and presentation tour, we informed eight universities in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan about the possibilities of animal-free education.

The initiative came from a doctor member of our organization who had studied in Tashkent and reported on the horrific animal experiments she had to do there. With the help of InterNICHE, the international network for humane education, the project was expanded from one to eight universities. In May and June 2012, Dimitrij Leporskij—our partner in our successful Ukraine projects—and Nick Jukes, coordinator of InterNICHE, traveled through the two Central Asian countries for five weeks, carrying 130 kg (!) of presentation materials such as computer software, DVDs, and models.

The response to the presentations was overwhelming! Nick and Dimitrij informed a total of around 600 professors, university staff, and students at eight universities in four cities about humane education, sparking great interest among them.

The project was initiated and partially funded by us. Implementation and further funding were carried out by InterNICHE. Our partial funding was made possible by the generous donation of a foundation. Many thanks for that!

The first stop was the Medical Academy in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

 

The Medical Academy was surprisingly well-equipped with technical devices. What was mainly missing here was the necessary software.

The interest among university teachers during the two-day event was exceptionally high.

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In the office of Prof. Bokhodir A. Magrupov (right), head of the Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology and Anatomy. In the institute’s physiology course, many animal experiments had already been replaced with humane alternatives. The head of the physiology course, Oisha T. Alyavia (center), is a true pioneer. Ten years ago, she contacted the American company Biopac, which manufactures equipment for student self-experiments, and insisted that the user manual had to be available in Russian. The company actually created a Russian translation just for her, and even sent a technician to Tashkent to install the device.

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The State Agricultural University in Tashkent, Faculty of Zootechnology.

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Around 75 university teachers and doctoral students were interested in the presentation.

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Nick’s lectures were translated into Russian by Dimitrij. At some events, university staff also helped translate into the respective national language.

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Illustrative: Surgical training models.

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The Agricultural University has a brand-new, state-of-the-art communication center, including a computer room with 100 computers! Events can be broadcast to universities throughout the country by conference call. These are perfect conditions for transitioning to animal-free teaching.

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At the Agricultural University in Samarkand, 300 km south of Tashkent. The contact came about through an animal rights activist from Tashkent. First there was a meeting with the rector, Prof. Toshtemir E. Ostanakulov (second from right).

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About 50 staff members from the Departments of Anatomy, Surgery, and Pharmacology, as well as the Department of Animal Diseases, attended.

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Jerry the simulation dog can be used to simulate heart and lung diseases or to train measures in emergency situations.

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Great interest.

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The university has an impressive anatomical collection.

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Some models are already in place.

Continue to the report on the tour through Kyrgyzstan >>