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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: A Retrospective

Event: Conference
Date: 12 Mar 2009 00:00

 

View full programme: HFEA Retrospective

Following the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in October 2008, the ESRC Genomics Forum organised a 'retrospective' conference examining the nature of the public debate leading up to the Act, and how this debate influenced the policy-making process. 

An event report by science writer Pamela Readhead is available here: Conscience or consultation? A commentary on the event by Richard Brown, BioCentre, is also available: HFE Act: A year on

Introduction
Listen to Audio File: Introduction by Dr Christine Knight

Steps Toward an Act

Dr Katy Berry - Department of Health
Listen to Audio File: Dr Katy Berry
View Powerpoint slides: Katy Berry's presentation slidesKaty Berry's presentation slides (PDF, 150 KB)
 

Democracy in Practice

Phil Willis MP - Chair of the Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Select Committee
Listen to Audio File: Phil Willis MP
View Powerpoint slides: Phil Willis's presentation slides

Professor Phil Cowley - University of Nottingham
Listen to Audio File: Professor Phil Cowley
View Powerpoint slides: not available

Sarah Norcross - Progress Educational Trust
Listen to Audio File: Sarah Norcross
View Powerpoint Slides: Sarah Norcross's presentation slides

Coalitions, Campaigns and Turning Points

Dr Stephen Minger - King's College, London
Listen to Audio File: Dr Stephen Minger
View Powerpoint Slides: Stephen Minger's presentation slides

Fiona Fox - Science Media Centre
Listen to Audio File: Fiona Fox
View Powerpoint Slides: Fiona Fox's presentation slides

Dr Calum MacKellar
Listen to Audio File: Dr Calum MacKellar
View Powerpoint Slides: not applicable

Social Science Perspectives
Listen to Audio File: Introduction by Professor Steve Yearley  

Dr Joan Haran - Cardiff University
Listen to Audio File: Dr Joan Haran
View Powerpoint Slides: Joan Haran's presentation slides

Dr Nik Brown - University of York
Listen to Audio File: Dr Nik Brown
View Powerpoint Slides: Nik Brown's presentation slides

Further details: The 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act was a landmark in national scientific decision-making, covering emotive and controversial issues such as the creation of human admixed embryos and 'saviour siblings'. The majority of the legislation takes effect in October 2009, but new parenthood provisions for same-sex couples came into force on 6 April. Read more about changes to parenthood law.

 

A related policy engagement event was held at the National Assembly for Wales on 19 May 2009, organised by Cesagen: Discussing Stem Cell Research in Context 

The Retrospective was funded via the ESRC Social Science Stem Cell Initiative, and took place during the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2009.

         

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