Dr. Jamie Newman, research assistant professor, and Dr. Teresa Murray, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Louisiana Tech University, have created the ADVANCE Networking Grant Seminar Series on Stem Cells and Biomedical Research, which is designed to engage researchers from across the state, while also educating the general public and providing opportunities to ask questions and openly discuss the topic. Newman and Murray organized the seminar series to bring in scientists from universities throughout Louisiana and to begin building a network of researchers with an interest in different areas of stem cell biology.  They also want to engage the general public in discussions on where stem cells come from, what type of research is being done in the lab, and what the potential for stem cells is in the field of medicine. The first public seminar in the series titled, “What are Stem Cells and What are the Potential Benefits of Stem Cell Research?” will take place on January 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) on the Louisiana Tech campus. The event is free and the public in invited to attend. “We wanted to include the general public in a discussion on this important area of biomedical research,” said Newman.  “There is a lot of misinformation on the Internet about the various sources of stem cells and their use in treating human disease.  We thought it was important to have a forum to clear up any misconceptions about stem cell research in the lab and in the clinic.” Newman says the seminar is organized so that anyone, regardless of their background, can learn something.  She also hopes it will create an environment where people can feel comfortable asking questions to acquire accurate knowledge on this topic. The discussion will include short presentations from Louisiana Tech faculty including Newman; Dr. Yuri Vozyianov, associate professor of biology; and Dr. David Mills, professor of biology. “The series, as a whole, will help students and faculty at Louisiana Tech learn more about the research going on at other universities,” Newman said.  “This will lead to research collaborations across the state that will benefit the efforts of students and faculty as they move their research programs forward. “In addition, our students will be afforded an opportunity to meet with each of the visiting speakers in order to ask questions about careers, research, and graduate programs, helping them to begin building their own scientific network.” Newman hopes that a successful series this year will lead to another series next year, on a different topic of interest to the Louisiana Tech campus community. “Inviting speakers to our campus gives us the opportunity to share our strengths and learn from theirs,” said Newman.  “Research efforts are increasingly becoming more interdisciplinary and more collaborative, and building these research networks will be critical for our future success.”