Academic freedom and the inclusive university is the title of a national conference to be hosted at UBC April 10-12, 1997.

Prof. Dennis Pavlich, co-chair of the conference advisory committee, said debate will be approached from a scholarly perspective addressing broad historical, philosophical and political questions.

"The focus will be on the intersection of the two sets of values implied by the phrases `academic freedom' and `the inclusive university,'" said Pavlich. "The intent is to clarify the issues and to evaluate ways and means by which conflicts may be resolved."

Lawyer Thomas Berger, Globe and Mail reporter Margaret Wente and Lorna Marsden, president of Wilfred Laurier University, are a few of the prominent speakers scheduled to appear at the conference. Among the topics under discussion: the role of the university in a changing culture; tracing the discourses on academic freedom and inclusiveness; and promoting both academic freedom and inclusiveness.

Those interested in making a presentation should send a summary of their ideas to: Prof. Dennis Pavlich, Conference on Academic Freedom and the Inclusive University, UBC, Old Administration Building, 6328 Memorial Road, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z2 or fax to 604-822-8731. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 1.

Sid Katz, executive director of Science World, will moderate debate around the central question, "Biotechnology: Cornucopia or Pandora's Box?"

Panelists include: Patricia Rodney, chair of the 1995 Canadian Bioethics Society Conference on Health Care Ethics in a Multicultural Society; Robert Hancock, UBC Prof. of Microbiology; author Brewster Kneen, former Senior Fellow, Environmental Studies, York University; and John Williams, director, Dept. of Ethics, Canadian Medical Association.

The panel will probe issues surrounding commercial biotechnological research and production, ethics and philosophy of science and economics and the academic biotechnological research field. Subtopics include biopiracy, food as multinational property, cosmetic evolution, eradication of genetic disease and the patenting of human, animal and agricultural genes.

Held under the auspices of the Dal Grauer Memorial Lectures, the event takes place in UBC's Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, Hall 2 at 7 p.m. A question period will follow the discussion as will a sponsored reception in the lobby. Tickets are $25. For more information call 604-822-5675.

The campaign, co-chaired by UBC law graduates Michael O'Keefe and Dorothy Byrne, has an initial goal of $1 million. Contributions to the UBC Law Endowment will be matched by the university's President's Fund, creating a $2-million fund.

"Donations to the UBC Law Endowment will support, in perpetuity, legal education that challenges, stimulates, encourages and promotes critical thinking and innovation," said Law Dean Lynn Smith.

"Support for the fund will produce generations of leaders in the profession and the community who are well-equipped to fulfill increasingly challenging roles, and will create a strong base for the future of legal education at UBC, benefiting the province and Canada as a whole."

Activities which will be supported by the endowment include enhanced legal research and writing programs, student and faculty research projects, professional development, conferences and public forums, public policy research, student aid and alumni communications.

UBC's Faculty of Law is the second largest in Canada, drawing 180 students a year nationwide into its undergraduate program.

For more information about the UBC Law Endowment, or to pledge support, call 604-822-3303.