Say No to Dissection

It Harms Animals

Every year, thousands of animals—including rats, mice, pigs, chickens, frogs and fish—are killed for classroom use. Some are bred for dissection, while others are taken from the wild, further depleting fragile ecosystems.

It Devalues Life

Dissection teaches students that animals are disposable. Some students even reconsider careers in healthcare or science because they’re uncomfortable with dissecting animals. We need compassionate, ethical professionals in medicine, nursing and research—let’s not drive them away!

It’s Not the Best Way to Learn

Research shows that humane teaching methods are just as effective—if not more so—than dissection. A review of 50 studies found that in 90% of cases, alternative methods met or exceeded learning outcomes (Zemanova & Knight, 2021). In another analysis of studies published between 2005 and 2020, 95% showed that students performed as well or better with humane alternatives (Ormandy et al., 2022).

It’s Outdated

Dissection has been around since the 1920s, but today, many countries—including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Argentina, Slovakia, Israel and South Korea—have already phased it out in schools. Modern tools provide a better learning experience without harming animals.

It’s Bad for the Environment

Frog populations are declining, and many animals used in dissection are captured from their natural habitats. Plus, the chemicals used to preserve specimens can be harmful to human health and the environment.

It’s a Waste of Money

Dissection is expensive—each specimen can only be used once. In contrast, high-quality computer simulations and 3D models are reusable, saving schools and universities thousands of dollars over time.

What Can You Do?

• Ask your teacher or lecturer if dissection is required and whether an alternative is available.
• Be confident and respectful when requesting a humane option—many educators simply aren’t aware of the alternatives.
• Team up with like-minded students to advocate for change.
• Push for a Student Choice Policy at your school or university.
• Write to your Minister for Education to support phasing out dissection in Australian schools.