The Berkeley Stem Cell Center welcomes undergraduate and graduate students' interest in stem cell research. Stem cell-related activities offered at UC Berkeley during the 2007-2008 academic year include:
Courses
1. Molecular and Cell Biology 237SC, Current Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Stem Cell Research. CIRM Scholars' course (Spring 2008, Charis Thompson)
2. Bioenginering C218/ Molecular and Cell Biology C237, Stem Cells and Directed Organogenesis. (Spring 2008, Irina Conboy)
3. Molecular and Cell Biology 231, Advanced Stem Cell and Developmental Biology. (Spring 2008, Sharon Amacher)
4. Bioengineering 98/198: Stem Cells: Science and Society DeCal (Fall 2007 and Spring 2008, organized by members of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research, with Irina Conboy, faculty sponsor)
5. Law 276.64, Stem Cell Research: Understanding the Intersection of New and Emerging Law and Science. (Spring 2008, Amy Schofield and Susan Stayn)
Student Society for Stem Cell Research
The Student Society for Stem Cell Research is an international organization consisting of 20 chapters (15 in the U.S.) that advocates stem cell research for cures. By educating the public on the science, ethics, and policy behind the research, we believe we will help support this burgeoning field so that stem cell research can help alleviate the suffering of millions in the future. Our members come from many backgrounds to voice our support for the ethical pursuit of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
The Cal-SSSCR chapter actively participates in stem cell activities on campus and creates opportunities for students and community members to learn more about this field. In Fall 2005, we began teaching a DeCal class called "Stem Cells: Science and Society". Scientists, policy-makers, Berkeley faculty and administrators, and philosophers give talks every week on a stem-cell-related issue.
SSSCR, in conjunction with the Berkeley Stem Cell Center, has invited internationally renowned stem cell researchers and ethicists to speak on campus. Cal-SSSCR, along with many other chapters around the country, held memorial vigils celebrating the life of Christopher Reeve with Superman video clips, speeches about Reeve's inspiring activism, and a glowstick-lit moment of silence in Sproul Plaza.
The SSSCR may be contacted through its course email address: stemcelldecal@gmail.com
Stem Cell Science and Values Education Initiative – Stem Cell Education Outreach Program
The Stem Cell Education Outreach Program group has created a presentation on the science and ethics of stem cell research, which SSSCR members deliver to local middle- and high- school biology classes. The group maintains a website for interested teachers at: http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~sceop and is in the process of filming and animating a 5-minute short film describing key aspects of stem cell biology.
The Stem Cell Education Outreach Program is a project of the Berkeley chapter of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research, and the Science, Technology, Ethics and Law working group, in collaboration with Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI), the Greenlining Institute, and UC Berkeley’s Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee.
Faculty mentors for this program are: Dr. Charis Thompson and Dr. Irina Conboy
Funding is generously provided by the Edmund D. Rothschild Foundation.
For more information, contact Laurel Barchas: lbarchas@berkeley.edu