Hot Topics: Management of controversial issues

1. Hot Topics: Management of controversial issues Susan Emigh, McMaster University Kathryn Warden, University of Saskatchewan CCAE conference – June 9, 2009

2. Hot topics • Potential areas of controversy • Animal research • Nuclear reactors • Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratories • Stem cell research • Vaccine development • Why? • Manage potential reputational risks • Maintain and build profile

3. Animal Research

4. Long history of animal use in science -- Louis Pasteur, rabies research, 1880s

5. Public Campaigns Against Research Institutions • Letter-writing campaigns, public demonstrations • Threats, hoax bombs, character assassination • Doorstop firebombs against researchers, property destruction

6. Public Campaigns ...Internet “If you care about animals, consider checking out where your alma mater or favorite university stands on animal research.” -- a column on World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week, April/2009 Stop Animal Testing in Nova Scotia (August 2007 to now) Stop dogs, cats and other animals from being murdered at Dalhousie University and other universities across Canada!! I saw what was going on to dogs and other animals at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The things I saw were extremely painful, archaic and scientifically valueless experiments. Drilling into cat heads and shining a flashlight into their exposed brains?. . . This work also was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada….. -- Facebook

7. Student animal rights group activities Hosting an Animal Rights Event at the University of Saskatchewan! Written by Amanda Griffiths, a student at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. October 2008 So when I heard about the Carnival of Solidarity, I decided to set up a booth to raise awareness about the oppression of animals. I actually got a really great response, and several emails and names of students who would be interested in being part of an animal rights group in the future.  We had a TV and DVD player set up, playing the peta2 DVD as well as the movie Earthlings.  A couple of guys actually pulled up some chairs and watched.  They were horrified at the footage of the fur industry and the meat industries.  A few people said that they were going to go vegetarian after reading the information and seeing parts of the videos.  One girl said she was a vegetarian but that she was inspired to go vegan from now on! A few of us are now seriously considering starting up an actual group on campus, which I’m really excited about!

8. Publicity Campaigns – General U.S. animal rights groups spend > $280M/yr

9. Public Campaigns . .Youth audiences

10. In Defense of Animal Research

11. Animal research • The stories • Pet dog • Rick Mercer • Gnotobiotic laboratory

12. Issues reports • Name of issue: Report nameand Date, Month, 20XX • Report writer: Name and position • Issue: The topic in form of the question. • Spokesperson(s) (Most often only one person) • Name, title that makes this person the relevant spokesperson for the educational institution • University phone numbers, E-mail, other contact info (home or cell phone) • Other resources: Names and contact information • Response: In point form, all follow-up items to the situation decided or confirmed. • Background: In point form, all the facts of the situation as known. • Distribution: Names of all people given report.

13. Animal research approaches • McMaster • Animal research ethics committee/policies • Low profile • Media training • Issues management (prepared Q&A) • Changes in research

14. Animal research approaches • University of Saskatchewan • proactive issues management – FAQs and backgrounder on website, media training presentations to communicators and CLC group

15. Challenges and Opportunities Education Within the research institute Within the academic institution With specific support / interest groups With the public in general With youth Crisis Management Plan Training on responding to activists; media dedicated spokespersons Key messages, Q & As

16. Challenges and Opportunities Partnering With Supporters Positive Relationships with Local Reporters Tracking Local Animal Activist Groups & Individuals & Activities

17. Nuclear Research Reactors • Eight research reactors in Canada: two at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories and six at universities. • The stories: • Tabloid TV • McMaster • U of S • The law suit

18. “The Bigger Picture” in SK SaskBusiness| March 1, 2009:| “Saskatchewan's SLOWPOKE: unknown to many, Saskatoon has been home to nuclear reactor since 1981.” Future reactors being explored at U of S

19. Nuclear research approaches • McMaster • Research policies • Media training • Proactive: Public tours, myth-busting • University of Saskatchewan Getting prepared (key messages, Q & As, communications plans (int/ext), energy forum, media training, op-eds, etc.)

20. Level 3 laboratory research • The stories: • Smallpox • HIV • Letters

21. Level 3 laboratory approaches McMaster Human research ethics committee/ policies Monitoring what’s going on in field/ at university Media training/ relationship building

22. Level 3 laboratory research • Coming soon … U of S International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) (slated for completion in 2010) • Letters – even from the Pope!

23. $140-M CL3 lab. . . InterVac Canada’s largest investment in vaccine R & D first CL3 in Western Canada for both human and large animal diseases one of the world’s few CL3 facilities for large animals ie. livestock

24. Level 3 laboratory approaches … • University of Saskatchewan InterVac -- Major 2-yr targeted profile-building plan -- media and advertising campaigns, video • Ambassador toolkits – internal and external • Media training for scientists • New approach to community engagement:

25. InterVac CLC -- Model for building trust Public forums, website, Q & A, fact sheet, incident reports, etc.

26. Hot topics summary • Be prepared • Policies/ ethics committees • Media monitoring • Media training • Media products: backgrounders, Q and As • Proactive media • Crisis management preparations

27. Hot topics summary • Questions and discussion • Have you had a hot research issue?

28. Hot Topics: Management of controversial issues