This week at the Progress Educational Trust (3 February 2012)
This week started with a shock, as the Progress Educational Trust (PET) didn't publish BioNews - its free weekly digest of news and comment on assisted conception, genetics and embryo/stem cell research - as usual on Monday. PET rarely resorts to shock tactics, but the BioNews blackout did provide the BioNews team with an opportunity to remind readers what a world without BioNews would look like, and to urge them to make a donation to the BioNews Christmas Appeal. The Appeal was launched to secure the future of BioNews, with a target of £20,000. Unfortunately that target hasn't been reached yet, but you still have a few more days to contribute and help keep BioNews a free resource. You can donate online through Paypal here, text PROG23 £amount to 70070, or send a cheque payable to 'Progress Educational Trust' to Progress Educational Trust, 140 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8AX. Many thanks to all the generous supporters who have already donated!
One of the reasons BioNews didn't publish as normal on Monday, was because two of its editors - Genetics Editor Dr Rebecca Hill and Science Editor James Brooks - attended a graduation ceremony at Guildhall, where they were both awarded their MAs in Science Journalism from City University London. Rebecca also found time this week to write a piece for New Scientist magazine's CultureLab entitled 'Animals get arty', in which she discussed the Art by Animals exhibition being held as part of the 'Humanimals' season at University College London's Grant Museum of Zoology. This unusual exhibition features - yes, you've guessed it - paintings by apes, elephants and even humans. (You'll have to read the article to find out whether Rebecca could tell the difference.)
Turning from art to science, you may recall that PET Director Sarah Norcross attended a London Regenerative Medicine Network event on umbilical cord blood banking last week. This continues to be a hot topic, as this week Sarah - together with PET Adviser Dr Stephen Minger and newly enlisted PET Volunteer Maria Taylor - attended the launch of a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Stem Cell Transplantation. This APPG is chaired by Mark Tami MP, and one of the Vice-Chairs is David Burrowes MP, who previously wrote about the need to increase the pool of potential adult bone marrow donors in his BioNews article 'Cord blood banking - why aren't we doing it?'.
While they were at the Houses of Parliament, Sarah and Maria took the opportunity to catch up with two people who played a crucial role in PET's history - Viscount Janric Craigavon, who was one of the founders of the charity; and Lord Dafydd Wigley, who was a part of PET's precursor organisation, the Progress Campaign for Research into Human Reproduction. Special thanks to Viscount Craigavon, who found time to give Maria a tour of the Palace of Westminster. Meanwhile, another newly enlisted PET Volunteer - Richard Fadok - accompanied Sarah to a different meeting this week, to discuss legal aspects of surrogacy and assisted conception with Barbara Connolly QC. This was part of the preparation for an event aimed at lawyers which will take place later this year.
Finally, if you're a BioNews reader then please don't forget to take a couple of minutes to complete the 2012 BioNews reader survey. This survey provides a great opportunity for you to tell the BioNews Editors what you think the strengths and weaknesses of the publication are. Understanding BioNews readers means that the editors can keep BioNews relevant, and PET can attract more advertisers - meaning BioNews can continue to be enjoyed as a free resource. Thank you!
