Call for Abstracts: ELSA-Symposium: „Animal Welfare and Stem Cell Utilization“

Haus der Universität Düsseldorf, Copyright: HHU, Foto von: Sigurd Steinprinz

After a successful inaugural event on more fundamental questions of stem cell research in 2022, this symposium represents the first follow-up event with a narrower range of topics. The aim of this series of events is to enable young researchers from the fields of philosophy, social sciences and law (ELSA) to engage in an interdisciplinary exchange and to provide impetus for further research projects in the field of stem cell research and related aspects.

For the upcoming event, contributions are sought from junior scholars in philosophy, law, and the social sciences. Possible topics and questions include:

• Fundamental questions of animal ethics such as the question of status, considerations of speciesism in the context of research, and the question of whether and how a trade-off between human and animal welfare/benefit could be justified.
• More specific philosophical questions such as the status of organoids based on stem cells, the classification and understanding of pain, or the question of how to deal with laboratory animals
• Questions concerning the legal classification and evaluation of the admissibility of animal experiments or the regulation of alternative procedures
• Fundamental social science questions on the topic up to the discussion of more concrete studies or theses on the social evaluation of animal experimentation
• International perspectives and comparisons of ethical, social and legal aspects

Scientific and medical contributions are also welcome, but they should be socially relevant. Please note  that the event will be held mainly in German.

The event is organized by Alina Omerbasic-Schiliro and Vasilija Rolfes (Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf) for the Stem Cell Network NRW. Submitted abstracts should be given the usual details and should not exceed 250 words. We look forward to receiving proposals for contributions as PDF files by Nov. 30, 2023, to Omerbasi[at]hhu.de and Vasilija.Rolfes[at]uni-duesseldorf.de.