Motherhood in the 21st Century

Links:

ucl.ac.uk/cdb/academics/lee" target="_self">Professor Samuel Lee

UCL Life Sciences

UCL is hosting a one-day conference to explore the reasons why some women choose to become mothers later in life.

Lord Robert Winston will deliver the opening address for the event, which will focus on some of the ethical issues as well as the health issues of childbirth at an older age. Professor Winston has an international reputation for his research into human reproduction and has pioneered advances widely used in fertility and IVF treatment.

The conference will include six plenary talks, a range of speakers and a debate panel. Professor Samuel Lee, chair of the conference, is Visiting Professor in Biomedical Science ABC Medical School Sao Paulo, and Honorary Teaching Fellow at UCL. He said:

"The conference will explore issues of iniquity and the commoditisation of babies. Prejudice in the form of ageism and gender will also be debated; keeping Darwin in mind as we speculate whether the desire might be undrpinned by modern evolutionary pressures."

The conference will be held in the JZ Young Lecture Theatre, Gower Street on Friday 18 September 2009 from 10am - 4pm. To find out more or to book your place, please visit: www.cdb.ucl.ac.uk/oldermothers