In the interest of promoting the framing of scientific freedom and responsibility issues, as well as the ethical and theological questions that cloning research presents, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) convened a multi-disciplinary Forum on Cloning on June 25^th, 1997.  Having long been involved in educational initiatives and research programs in the field of bioethics, the AAAS served to promote a constructive dialogue among different viewpoints and contribute to the development of appropriate public policy through the 1997 forum.. 

Advances in cloning research, such as the documented production of a genetically identical duplicate of an organism through nuclear transfer from a mature cell to an embryo, have fueled considerable public debate over the subject of cloning.  Among those advances is the possibility of cloning human beings. 

Opportunities for thoughtful and deliberate reflection on developments in science, especially genetics, before they are upon us are rare.  Typically, we are in a “reactionary mode,” scrambling to match our values and policy to the events around us.  But with cloning, we have the chance to think and plan ahead, to give direction to this technology through rigorous analysis and dialogue.  The Forum on Cloning convened two multi-disciplinary panels of scientists, ethicists, theologians, and policy analysts to provide direction to both cloning technology and debate regarding the technology itself.  By developing an effective conversation between science and society, the forum desired to promote policy that is beneficial to each involved party. 
 

	Program
8:30	Opening Remarks
	Mildred S. Dresselhaus  President, AAAS
8:45	Scientific Overview
	Ian Wilmut  Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
9:45	Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission
	Ezekiel J. Emanuel  Member of the Commission and   Professor of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical School
10:45	Break
11:45	Panel on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Issues
	Moderator:
	Mark S. Frankel  AAAS
	Participants:
	William Dommel, Jr.  Director of Education,  Office for Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health
	Carl Feldbaum  President,   Biotechnology Industry Organization
	Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)  Chairman, Subcommittee on Science, Space and Technology;  Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety
	Sheldon Krimsky  Department of Urban and Environmental Policy, Tufts University
	Wolfram Schoett  Counselor for Science, Technology, and the Environment, Embassy of Germany
	Maxine Singer  President, The Carnegie Institute of Washington
	Colin Stewart  Director, Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, national Cancer Institute - Frederick (MD) Cancer Research and Development Center
	Peter Tucker  Counsellor for Industry, Science, and Tourism, Embassy of Australia
	Ian Wilmut  Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
1:00	Lunch
2:30	Panel on Ethical and Theological Issues Raised by Cloning
	Moderator:
	Audrey R. Chapman  AAAS
	Participants:
	Pilar Ossorio  Director, Genetics Division, Ethics Institute, American Medical Association
	Ted Peters  Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley
	Rabbi Moshe Tendler  Departments of Biology and Jewish Medical Ethics, Yeshiva University,   New York
	Robert Wachbroit  Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, University of Maryland,   College Park
	Sondra Wheeler  Department of Christian Ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary
4:45	Closing Remarks
	Mildred S. Dresselhaus  President, AAAS

The Directorate for Science and Policy Programs hosts the two programs that organized the forum.  The Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program is responsible for the Association's activities related to ethics and law, while the Program of Dialogue between Science and Religion promotes opportunities for dialogues between the scientific and religious communities on the ethical and religious implications of science and technology.  The project was directed by Drs. Audrey R. Chapman and Mark S. Frankel at the AAAS. 
 

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