Symposia

2025 Animal and Natural Resource Law Review Symposium

Beyond the Lab: Animals and Alternatives in Testing and Research

Date: Friday, March 21, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Join us in the MSU College of Law’s Castle Boardroom to hear experts discuss the legal and scientific landscapes of animals and alternatives in testing and research. There will also be a Zoom option for those who are unable to attend in person.

Panel 1: Animals in Research and Testing: Laws, Policies, and Emerging Issues

This panel will explore the legal and regulatory framework governing animal research, including the Animal Welfare Act, the Health Research Extension Act, and current challenges shaping the field. Emerging issues and their implications for research and policy will also be discussed.

Panel 2: Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing: Where Are We?

This panel will highlight advancements in alternatives to animal testing, including technologies such as in vitro methods, organ-on-a-chip, organoids, and artificial intelligence. The discussion will center on the progress made and the future of these innovative approaches.

Past Symposia

2024 — Navigating Waters: Legal and Policy Perspectives on Great Lakes Conservation and Management

2023 — The Cross-Section of Animal Law and the First Amendment

2022 — Space: The Next Legal Frontier

2020 — Cats in Captivity: Private Exotic Animal Ownership & the Horrors of Roadside Zoos

2019 — The Dilemma of Wild Horses and What To Do With Them

2018 — Service Animals and the Law

2017 — Inevitably Vegan: The History and Future of the Meat Industry

2016 — Invasive Species: More than a Pest and Legal Enforcement Issues

2015 — A Future Harvest For America's Cities: Agriculture and Livestock as a Tool for Urban Renewal

2014 — Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss in a Climate Change Context

2013 — Chicken Farming in the 21st Century: A Look at the Legal, Ethical, & Environmental Concerns Associated with Poultry Confinement