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Spring 2009 Humanities Lecture Series starts Jan. 29


January 15, 2009

Advancements in stem cell research and cloning and how religions will view genetic research will kick off a popular lecture series at the Downtown Phoenix campus.

Joel Gereboff’s “Religion and Bioethics” will commence the Spring 2009 Humanities Lecture Series, which starts at noon, Jan. 29 at the University Center, 411 N. Central Ave., room 234.

The lecture series is free and open to the public.

“The Humanities Lecture Series provides us with opportunities to analyze, discuss, and interpret current events. We look forward to public discussions that help us understand and appreciate various points of view on political, social and cultural issues,” says Frederick C. Corey, director of ASU’s School of Letters & Sciences and dean of University College.

The School of Letters & Sciences in University College is designed to respond to the needs of ASU students, downtown faculty members, the challenges of higher education and constituent communities.

Professor Joel Gereboff is Chair of Religious Studies in ASU's School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. Gereboff discusses how religious intervention will play a role in future biological and genetic research and this topic will be the focal point of his lecture.

“Secular philosophical and religious thinkers have been grappling with these issues for the past number of years, but finding ways to cultivate serious societal engagement with these matters is often difficult,” says Gereboff. “Often issues immediately become sensationalized and politicized and this in turn diverts us from critically thinking in these matters.”

Corey said he is honored to have Gereboff as the first speaker in the series, which runs through March.

"Joel is a respected scholar and teacher in the areas of Rabinnic Judaism, ethics and religion, and bioethics. He engages community and ideas in reflective and thoughtful ways," says Corey. 

For more information call (602) 496-0638 or visit http://sls.asu.edu/hss/news.html.