The Quest for Immortality

Dr Fiona Mansfield


Region:
South East
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Hobby
Fee:
Paid: £30-60/hr plus travel. Please contact me for details.
Category:
Science
Updated:
25th September 2019
Tagged:
Medicine | Women | Ethics | Genetics

It is 1950's America and an ordinary black American woman is in hospital being treated for cervical cancer. During a surgical procedure a biopsy is taken without her permission. Sixty years on those cells are still alive in laboratories today, have saved millions of lives and raise key questions about the biological basis of cancer, longevity and the possibility of immortality. Based on the best selling book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks', let me take you on a journey through one of the darkest periods in American modern history, scientific discovery and medical ethics.

Views: 1121 | Enquiries: 4

About Dr Fiona Mansfield

As a child growing up on a farm in Sussex I developed a passion for nature and the environment. After leaving school I went on to study for a BSc in Environmental Biology, followed by a PhD in Microbial Ecology where I developed a love for medieval re-enactment and cooking. Since then I have spent 17 years as a Biology teacher inspiring the next generation to develop a life-long love of learning and biology, whilst continuing to expand my own sphere of scientific understanding and interest. I currently continue to teach part time and advise friends and acquaintances on gardening, with a strong focus on sustainability and wildlife gardening. In my spare time I enjoy cooking for friends, watching history and archaeology documentaries, reading science fiction and fantasy novels and singing in my local choral society.


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