San Diego

https://sdaalas.com/

The San Diego Chapter of AALAS is a non-profit organization of laboratory animal science professionals who seek to educate both those within the industry and the public about our commitment to humane animal care.

In 1966, a group of dedicated individuals from the Salk Institute, UCSD and Scripps formed the San Diego branch of AALAS. Wesley Hendricks of UCSD was the first branch president.

The SDAALAS Branch was instrumental in initiating a training program for animal technicians at San Diego City College. At this time the Animal Technician Certification Program, established in 1961, was developed, administered, and graded by branches of AALAS. Some of our existing members were involved in this testing which gradually became a central AALAS office function.

San Diego hosts its first District 8 meeting in 1975, the venue being Vacation Village on Mission Bay. This was followed in 1986 when the venue for the second District 8 meeting was the Holiday INN Embarcadero. The 2007 District 8 meeting was at the Scottish Rite Center. In May 2022 District 8 meeting was at the Liberty Station Conference Center.

All of our District 8 meetings have been hugely successful and well attended events attracting technicians throughout the district.