BEST BRANCH BRAD AWARD
Congratulations to Nebraska AALAS,
Winner of the Best Branch BRAD Award!
AALAS Branches around the country are supporting laboratory animal professionals and educating their communities on the necessity of animal research, and we are ready to celebrate all the hard work they put into their BRAD events. Therefore, we have partnered with AALAS and the AALAS Foundation to recognize the Best Branch BRAD celebration! This award recognizes the AALAS Branch that has shown creativity, innovation, and dedication to outreach and education through planning and execution of their BRAD event.
"Nebraska AALAS has been participating in BRAD events for the last several years. We've also been participating in the Nebraska Science Fest since 2018. Over the last few years, we've celebrated these two events together during the public expo at the Nebraska SciFest. Members of the NE AALAS branch volunteer for the event and interact with the general public. We relate to them about our pets and how research animals contribute to the live saving treatments for both people and their furry family members. We educate visitors on careers in animal research, emphasizing the importance of having compassion for animals. Children, teens, parents, and other attendees made inquiries to learn more about the role of animals in research and were impressed to learn that there are such committed teams ensuring the best of care is given to the animals who give so much in turn. We've been able to play enrichment matching games, hold Q and A sessions, hand out educational materials, posters, stickers, tattoos, and other supplies that help keep everyone engaged when learning about biomedical research and animal science thanks to BRAD and their sponsors."
Nomination submitted by Allison Anderson
Runner-Up: Southern New England AALAS
"The collaboration between SNEAALAS, Yale and Alexion Pharmaceuticals was instrumental in organizing and sponsoring a highly successful event. The provision of lunch and dessert added a touch of comfort and hospitality, while also enhancing the overall attendee experience. Additionally, the inclusion of vendor-sponsored giveaways and BRAD/SNEAALAS branded swag undoubtedly contributed to the excitement and engagement of the attendees.
What truly sets this event apart is the level of attendance it achieved, making it the most well-attended SNEAALAS meeting of 2024. This remarkable outcome can be attributed to the proactive promotion of the event through various channels, including social media, email blasts, and word of mouth. The decision to host a BRAD table at the local QUAD AALAS Symposium was a strategic move that not only increased awareness but also directly contributed to the event's success.
The strategic planning and execution of the event were clearly effective, and the various elements such as food, giveaways, and promotion all played a crucial role in its success. The high attendance at the BRAD event indicates that the efforts to create awareness and generate interest were not only successful but also surpassed expectations.
The SNEAALAS BRAD viewing party at Alexion Pharmaceuticals was a resounding success and exemplifies the best practices in collaboration and promotion of openness and transparency in research."
Nomination submitted by Megan Gerhardt
