Biotechnology Institute News room

Symposium Will Inspire Students Regarding Stem Cell Research

   

Arlington, Va. (February 19, 2008) – The Biotechnology Institute is partnering with the National Academy of Sciences and members of the Illinois education and biotechnology communities to hold the Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Symposium, a forum for discussing innovative approaches to teaching stem cell research. 

The symposium, to be held February 22 at Northwestern University, will convene 150 teachers, leading scientists, and journalists to discuss stem cell research, including its underlying scientific foundations and realistic promise, ethical and societal considerations, and approaches to teaching it to Illinois students.

“Our goal is to educate students about this ground-breaking and sometimes controversial science by engaging the scientific community with educators in a conversation about advances in stem cell science and how to convey them to the classroom,” says Paul A. Hanle, president of the Biotechnology Institute. “As educators we are always looking for opportunities to interest students in current science. Stem cell research is a topic that has the potential to galvanize students’ interest in issues that are very relevant to their lives and society.”

The Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Symposium will include presentations and panel discussions led by leading scientists, ethicists, policy analysts and educators regarding interdisciplinary approaches for teachers, policy makers and scientists to collaborate and develop ways to educate students and inspire greater involvement in the future of stem cell technology.  The symposium will include the following experts from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine:

  • John A. Kessler, MD, professor and chair of the department of neurology and director of the Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research at Northwestern University;
  • Douglas Losordo, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute and Program in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine;
  • Laurie Zoloth, professor of medical humanities and religion and director of the Center for Bioethics, Science and Society;
  • Scott Stern, associate professor of management and strategy at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, will also take part in the symposium.

The symposium is one of four stem cell education forums that will be conducted in 2008 by the Biotechnology Institute and its national partner, the National Academy of Sciences. Sponsors of the Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Symposium include Northwestern University, Astellas USA Foundation, Baxter Healthcare, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST), iBIO Institute, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois State Board of Education, The University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Chicago Biomedical Consortium.

About the Biotechnology Institute

The Biotechnology Institute is an independent, national nonprofit organization dedicated to education about the present and future impact of biotechnology. Its mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly students and teachers, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food and environmental problems. For more information, visit www.biotechinstitute.org.

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Jeff Ghannam
Communications Director
703-248-8681
jghannam@biotechinstitute.org