How Hidden Curricula Sustain Harmful Animal Use in Veterinary and Biomedical Education

Upcoming Webinar | Alternatives and Simulation in Education 19 May at 1 pm New York / 7 pm Berlin (Zoom) From Classroom to Laboratory: How Hidden Curricula Sustain Harmful Animal Use in Veterinary and Biomedical Education Speaker: Kathrin Herrmann, PhD Director of Education, Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), together with the Ombion Centre for Animal-Free Biomedical Translation and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE), invites you to the next webinar in the Alternatives and Simulation in Education series. About the Webinar Despite major advances in humane, human-relevant teaching tools and research methods, the use of animals remains common in veterinary education in many countries, and the use of live animals in biomedical training is still widespread. Why do these practices persist at such scale—even when effective and ethical alternatives exist? In this talk, Dr. Kathrin Herrmann explores the underlying forces that sustain animal use, moving beyond purely scientific explanations to examine the roles of conditioning, culture, and structural lock-in. Drawing on empirical research, sociological theory, and professional experience, she will unpack how “hidden curricula” shape professional identity, normalize harm, and reinforce reliance on animal-based methods across education and research systems. The session introduces a multi-level framework spanning individual training, institutional norms, and systemic incentives, and highlights pathways for change toward humane, human-relevant science and education. What You Will Learn - How the hidden curriculum shapes acceptance of animal use - Why training, lab culture, and incentives reinforce existing practices - The role of scientific inertia and structural lock-in - Strategies to advance humane, human-relevant education and research Who Should Attend This webinar is relevant for educators, researchers, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in advancing innovative, ethical, and human-relevant approaches to science and education. Please register in advance at: https://jh.zoom.us/.../register/WN_cQUL9myTROaUy8hISL8vXg... Speaker Dr. Kathrin Herrmann is a veterinary specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law (DipECAWBM (AWSEL)) and holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Freie Universität Berlin. She is a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she leads the Beyond Classical Refinement and Education programs at the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT). Her work advances the ethical and scientific standards of biomedical research through education, policy engagement, and the implementation of innovative, human-relevant methods. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of animal wellbeing, human wellbeing, and planetary health, with a focus on prevention and aligning research with planetary boundaries. Dr. Herrmann is a member of the Global Education Hub for Animal-Free Innovation and collaborates internationally to promote scientifically robust and ethically responsible research aligned with animal protection as well as human and planetary health.