It is somewhat surprising and depressing at the same time that the topic of a recent post published on this blog (How pragmatic my research is?), seems to be one of the factors contributing to the shocking series of events that is now seriously threatening the scientific research performed in Italy.
The facts are outlined in this editorial just published on Nature Neuroscience (December 2013, Volume 16 No 12 pp1709-1908), which I suggest you to have a look at:
In the mentioned post I share some thoughts about how making research pragmatic and easy accessible for the "real world" of non-experts could contribute to a better use and understanding of the research activity we perform in our labs.
The lack of communication between researchers, lawmakers and the general public is suggested as one of the causes of this crisis for which Italian scientists could also be responsible of. Although I agree with this point and acknowledge this as one of the contributing factors, I also feel that (as highlighted in the Nature's editorial) this "short-sighted and ill-advised bill" is the result of a lack of basic scientific understanding among the general public, and even more importantly, the persistent weakening of the quality of scientific education in Italy.
Here I report the first two paragraphs of the mentioned Nature neuroscience's editorial:
"It has been a tough couple of years for Italian scientists. It began with an announcement in July 2012 that funding at some national research institutes would be cut by 3.8% in 2012 and by a further 10% in 2013 and 2014. It got worse when, in October of 2012, a judge in the city of L’Aquila convicted six geoscientists and one government official of manslaughter, sentencing them each to 6 years in jail after they downplayed the risks of a recent tremor activity, days before a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the region. And now comes what may be the worst challenge for Italian science yet: in August of this year, the Italian parliament voted in favor of new legislation that, if enacted, is primed to completely undermine nearly all biomedical research in the country. Although this statute may not actually become law, at least in its current form, the very fact that this issue has cleared the first legislative hurdle indicates a deep conceptual disconnect between scientists and the Italian government; one that may stem, in part, from insufficient communication between researchers, lawmakers and the general public.
The story of this legislation begins with a European Union directive (Directive 2010/63/EU), adopted in September of 2010, that aimed to institute minimum standards in the usage of animals for scientific or educational endeavors. Although the directive mandated that all member states present their national animal care provisions by January 1, 2013, Italy is one of six EU nations that has so far failed to satisfy the directive. However, a bill that was recently approved by the Italian parliament goes far beyond the regulations outlined in the EU directive. This legislation, if approved by the Senate and enacted, would prohibit the breeding or use of cats, dogs and nonhuman primates for experiments, with the exception of clearly defined translational (human health–related) research purposes. In addition, the statute mandates that anesthesia or analgesic agents must be applied during any procedure in which the animal may experience some pain, except in cases where anesthesia or analgesia are the subject of the study. But, most worrisome of all is the directive that prohibits the use of all animals for xenotransplantations and in research programs aimed at the study of drugs of abuse".
As an Italian researcher working in the UK I believe this crisis could represents an additional brick to that wall which is leading more and more Italian scientists abroad not to consider going back to Italy as a possibility in their research career.
Davide Filingeri
PhD Researcher
Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre
Loughborough University, UK
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