When we're sick, the doctor prescribes a pill, but we rarely think about how that drug got to us. The process begins with scientists studying a library of chemical compounds to choose the most suitable one to solve the problem while causing minimal side effects. To achieve this, they conduct an initial experiment on cells growing in a culture dish, then on animals, and finally on humans. This is the protocol that has been used for decades and has allowed us to have pharmacies full of solutions for almost every disease. But there have always been critical voices questioning whether animal experimentation was truly necessary. The reasons are primarily ethical, related to the unnecessary suffering of beings capable of feeling pain. Lately, this viewpoint has gained influence, and some countries have begun to take steps to eliminate these studies altogether.

We live in very turbulent times that also affect scientific progress and the generation of knowledge. How do we confront future pandemics? How do we mitigate climate change? How do we search for new energy sources? The role of science is a subject of debate around the world precisely when global challenges demand joint responses based on scientific evidence. And, paradoxically, science and the scientific community are under severe attack.