As of 1 July 2011 the ASCC is closed. This page is archived.
Education is a fundamental component of the work we do at the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC). The ASCC is committed to providing a range of community programs designed to help the public understand emerging issues in biotechnology and, in particular, stem cell technology.
One of the principal educational functions of the ASCC is to encourage robust public debate and encourage a deeper understanding and knowledge of the progress of research and development in this field.
This has been especially important over the last year, as the applicability of advances in human embryonic stem cell research, continued questions about the potential use of different cell types, and considerations of the ability to perform certain aspects of research in Australia are each under consideration.
In fostering public discussion, the ASCC acknowledges that there are different views in society on the ethics of certain forms of stem cell research. For some, the promise of stem cell research is counter balanced by ethical and religious objections to embryo and stem cell research.
The ASCC encourages discussion to form an educated debate, not only to improve the community's understanding of stem cell research and its realistic applications, but to promote an awareness of the spectrum of views.