Welfare Science

Animal Welfare Data Sharing and Open Science

Open data sharing in animal welfare research accelerates knowledge translation, prevents duplication of studies, and supports evidence-based policy.

Key Facts

Animal welfare datasets are often siloed within academic institutions or companies
Open data platforms like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility model what's possible for welfare data
Welfare research duplication wastes resources and causes unnecessary animal use
Data sharing requirements are increasingly mandated by major research funders

Welfare Considerations

Lack of data sharing slows welfare science progress and reduces the impact of research investment. Open data allows meta-analyses that identify more reliable conclusions than individual studies. The 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) are better served by shared data.

What You Can Do

Support open access publishing requirements for animal welfare research
Advocate for welfare data sharing mandates in research funding conditions
Engage with open science initiatives developing welfare-specific data standards