In April 2011, ISS21 played host to a European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop on Assisted Reproduction and Changing European Family Structures.  The workshop was convened by Dr. Deirdre Madden (Faculty of Law), Dr. Linda Connolly (School of Sociology & Philosophy) and Dr. Máire Leane (School of Applied Social Studies) and was an initiative of ISS21.

The workshop explored the social, ethical and legal consequences of scientific developments in the arena of assisted reproductive technologies and examined and compared how these developments relate to the broader changes occurring in family structures and intimate relationships in European societies. The 17 participants were drawn from a range of European countries including Scotland, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England and Ireland and the workshop facilitated interdisciplinary dialogue on how the changing nature of family life intersects with social, legal and ethical debates about Artificial Reproductive Technology.