Lee University will welcome bioethics lawyer Nikolas T. Nikas for his presentation, “Who’s Your Daddy? Human Cloning, Animal-Human Hybrids & 3-parent Embryos (what every student should know about law, morality, science, and the Brave New World).” The lecture will take place Friday, March 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Science and Math Complex Lecture Hall, Room 255.

“Bioethics touches upon areas of law and public policy, managing to evoke both hopeful anticipation and considerable anxiety within many,” said Dr. Mark Scully, assistant professor of political science at Lee. “Nikas has been deeply involved in the American legal and political work in this area, helping to create model legislation for state legislatures and assisting in crafting of amicus briefs for the Supreme Court. His experience and training mean that he will be able to offer a clear-sighted evaluation of the philosophical challenges in the rapidly evolving world of medicine, technology, and ethics.”

Nikas has worked as a lawyer, policy and legal consultant, and public speaker in bioethics law and policy since 1992. He is president, co-founder, and general counsel of the Bioethics Defense Fund, a public interest organization focusing on bioethical topics, and has addressed issues such as abortion, healthcare rights of conscience, human cloning, and end of life.

He has been admitted into the Arizona State Bar, the U.S. District Court of Arizona, the U.S. fifth, eighth, and ninth circuit courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has testified in the Senate regarding abortion and first amendment rights, and also consulted with state legislators and members of the president’s staff for bioethics during the Bush Administration.

Nikas received his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University College of Law and holds his Master of Arts in political theory and Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations, both from the University of Notre Dame.

The Friday event is free, non-ticketed, and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information about this event, contact [email protected].