"Defining Life and Death" Explored in Science Matters - A New Speakers Program at the California Science Center

Market Wire, January, 2006

What:      Science Matters, a new speakers program that explores current
           science issues at the forefront of public concern, will present
           "Defining Life and Death" on January 21, 2006, from 1:30-3:30 pm
           in the Loker Conference Center at the California Science Center.
           Admission is free.

           Through advances in medical science, we have the technical
           capability to sustain life in states of sickness for an
           indefinite period of time. At the same time we have no general
           agreement, as a society, about whether it is appropriate to keep
           people alive in a near-death state of illness or in a state so
           highly impaired that the patient cannot ever again interact with
           others. How can we better define proper end of life transitions
           -- for ourselves, for critically ill loved ones, for others?

           This forum addresses these fundamental life and death questions
           and offers different expert opinions on the ethical issues that
           arise in our path from life to death. The recent Supreme Court
           ruling on assisted suicide shows how critical this issue has
           become.

Who:       Panelists scheduled to participate include:
           Dr. Neil Wenger, Professor and Chair of the Ethics Committee,
           University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center; Shirley
           Otis-Green, Senior Research Specialist, City of Hope National
           Medical Center; Dr. Jay Wolfson*, Professor and Associate Vice
           President of Health Law, University of South Florida; Reverend
           Cecil Murray, Senior Fellow, Center for Religion and Civic
           Culture, University of Southern California.

           (*Dr. Jay Wolfson served as the court-appointed guardian for
            Terry Schiavo.)

           Geoffrey Cowan, Dean, Annenberg School for Communication,
           University of Southern California, is the moderator.

           Jeffrey N. Rudolph, President & CEO, California Science Center
           and Governor George Deukmejian, President, California Science
           Center Foundation are the event hosts.

When:      Saturday, January 21, 2006
           1:30 - 3:30 PM

Where:     California Science Center - 1st floor
           700 State Drive - Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037

General
Info:      Enter visitor parking at 39th/Coliseum and Figueroa Streets.
           Parking is $6/car. For general information, please visit our web
           site at www.californiasciencecenter.org or phone (323) SCIENCE.
           Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair
           accessible.

Contacts: Shell Amega or Paula Wagner (213) 744-7446