WILLIAMSTOWN - Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., a Catholic priest and neuroscientist, will speak on "The Science and Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning." The talk is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. in Griffin Hall, room 3. The talk is geared toward a lay audience.
He will present the science involved in the procedures for extracting stem cells and for cloning. Different types of stem cells and of human cloning will be distinguished. Following presentation of basic biology, Pacholczyk will discuss the moral objections people may have to some of the procedures as well as which ones might be most efficient scientifically for curing potential diseases.
He will also discuss the debate on the role between science and morality and whether the Catholic Church's moral opposition to embryonic stem cell research and human cloning is based on sound science or on "a theology of the possible delayed ensoulment of the embryo."
He has testified before the Massachusetts and Wisconsin state legislatures concerning a bill to ban human cloning. He serves on the ethics committee for St. Anne's Hospital and Caritas Christi Health Care System, Fall River, Mass. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Mass., where he is parochial vicar of St. Patrick's Church in Falmouth on Cape Cod.
Pacholczyk earned two degrees in advanced theology and ethics at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where the church sends promising priestly candidates for training. Before his ordination at age 34, he completed postdoctoral work at Harvard University in neuroscience, and earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Yale. He holds undergraduate degrees in molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and philosophy from the University of Arizona.
The lecture is sponsored by the Williams Catholic organization.
For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Public Affairs (413) 597-4279. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/home/campusmap
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
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