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Cloning claim under a cloud….Without proof, scientists are now suggesting that claims by the controversial group Clonaid that they have cloned a human may be bogus. While SFU molecular biologist Bruce Brandhorst can talk about why the chances of a successful cloning are low and explain how molecular biological processes work, SFU psychology professor Barry Beyerstein can shed some light on the influence of cults and why he doubted the news from the start. "This story had hoax written all over it," says Beyerstein, who is also chair of the BC Skeptics Society. Beyerstein is also involved with a group called CSICOP (Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), an international organization whose mandate is to promote the backing of scientific claims by facts. "I don’t know a lot about molecular biology, but I do know enough to know the hurdles and the probabilities," says Beyerstein, who can also look at what motivates cults like the Raelian movement to seek publicity.

Bruce Brandhorst, 604.291.4627/3021; bruce_brandhorst@sfu.ca
Barry Beyerstein, 604.291.3743; barry_beyerstein@sfu.ca




Blowing holes in a loaded argument…Federal Justice Minster Martin Cauchon’s argument for maintaining Canada’s controversial gun registry program and pouring $92,000 into reining in its costs is full of holes, says an SFU expert. Business professor Gary Mauser, an expert on Canada’s gun laws, has wasted no time in shooting down Ottawa police chief Vince Bevan’s defense that Canada’s gun registry now has invaluable information. "He doesn’t explain how the information could possibly be useful with an error rate of up to 90 percent," says Mauser. "The RCMP told the auditor general that the information was so bad they couldn’t trust it." Mauser says research shows that "money spent on registering the guns of normal Canadians who happen to own firearms is not effective at keeping guns out of the hands of criminals."

Gary Mauser, 604.291.3652, mauser@sfu.ca



Going Scottish on Skytrain…Skytrain riders may feel as though they are being hijacked to the Gaelic highlands on Friday, January 24. This year, the annual SFU parade in honour of Robbie Burns’ birthday (which is on Jan. 25) will board Skytrain. It’s the first year that those involved in the shenanigans surrounding the event will visit both Surrey and Harbour Centre campuses. A complete list of where the haggis-bearing troupe will stop and cut the great chieftain of the pudding race is available from the ceremonies office.

Marilyn Pankratz, (ceremonies) 604.291.4643, 604.808.3244; pankratz@sfu.ca




Minister meets with political science students…Stephan Dion, federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, will meet with 300 political science students at SFU on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to talk about intergovernmental relationships in an era of budget surpluses. The session will be held in Images Theatre (north concourse of the academic quadrangle) from 2:30-3:30 p.m. As the talk is part of a class, media can sit in but are asked to save questions for after the session and not bring in cameras.

Marianne Meadahl, Media & PR, 604.291.4323, marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca