A bioethicist from Saint Louis University will join two University of Missouri-Rolla professors and two representatives from prominent churches to discuss the science, ethics and faith-based aspects of adult and embryonic stem cell research.

The forum, “Perspectives on Stem Cell Research,” will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the Carver-Turner Room of the Havener Center on the UMR campus. The forum is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the UMR Center for Applied Ethics and Professional Life and the UMR Newman Center’s Association for Ethics and Morality, the forum is intended to offer “perspectives on the science, ethics and faith-based aspects” of stem cell research, says Dr. Adam Potthast, assistant professor of philosophy and professional ethics at UMR and director of the newly created Center for Applied Ethics and Professional Life.

The panelists will present a five-minute opening statement to address their area of expertise on the topic, followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience. Each panelist will then be given the opportunity to make a closing statement before the two-hour forum concludes.

Forum panelists are:

* Dr. Gerard Magill, director of the Saint Louis University Center for Health Care Ethics. A bioethicist, Magill is the author of the book “Genetics and Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Study,” published in 2004.

* Dr. Katie Shannon, assistant professor of biological sciences at UMR, who will discuss the science of embryonic stem cell research.

* Dr. Klaus Woelk, associate professor of chemistry at UMR, who will discuss the science of adult stem cell research.

* Deacon Lawrence Weber, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, who will present the theological and ethical arguments in opposition of stem cell research.

* The Rev. Allen Ladage, pastor of the United Methodist Church of St. Clair, Mo., who will discuss theological and ethical arguments in favor of stem cell research.

For more information about the forum, contact Potthast at 573-341-4868 or Sister Denise Descoteaux, director of the UMR Newman Center, at 573-364-2133.