The Reproductive Ethics Conference is an annual, interdisciplinary gathering focused on exploring the ethical, legal, social, and cultural dimensions of reproductive health. The field of reproductive ethics is shaped by ongoing advances in medical technology, shifting cultural norms, political and ideological divisions, and theological perspectives—factors that continue to raise complex and often controversial questions. This conference provides a forum for rigorous and respectful dialogue on a wide range of issues in reproductive ethics. We welcome participants from all professional backgrounds to foster a rich and collaborative discussion.

March 12-13, 2026

Conference Organizers:

Send abstracts and questions to repethics@thehastingscenter.org.     

The goal of this conference is to explore the range of topics addressed in reproductive ethics. We welcome individuals from all professional fields to create a rich and robust discussion.

In light of the change in venue, we are reopening the call for abstracts for individual presentations, 3-4 person panels, and posters. Please limit abstracts to 250 words for presentations and posters and 500 words for panels.

Abstracts should be sent to repethics@thehastingscenter.org by January 30, 2026. Submissions will receive a response by February 20.

Registration is required for this event. Registration fee is $51.75.

Keynote Speakers:

Title: Bearing Witness to Reproductive Harm: Ethics, Memory, and Health Care Justice

Dr. Faith Fletcher is an Associate Professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, a Hastings Center Fellow, and a Greenwall Faculty Scholar in Bioethics—an esteemed award supporting innovative bioethics research. Her scholarship addresses health equity, reproductive autonomy, and community engagement, with a strong emphasis on fostering trust and respect in healthcare and research settings. Dr. Fletcher has received numerous prestigious grants and honors, including support from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Society of Family Planning, and Fordham University’s HIV Research Ethics Training Institute. She recently served on a National Academies committee, contributing to national discussions on newborn screening. In 2017, Dr. Fletcher was named one of the National Minority Quality Forum’s 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health.

Title: The Politics of Male Reproductive Health

Dr. Rene Almeling is Professor of Sociology at Yale University. Her primary research and teaching interests are in gender, medicine, and reproduction. Currently, she is developing a new project on climate change. Using a range of qualitative, historical, and quantitative methods, her work examines questions about how biological bodies and cultural norms interact to influence scientific knowledge, markets, and individual experiences. 

Professor Almeling is the author of two award-winning books: Sex Cells and GUYnecology, and she is co-editor of two volumes: “Men, Masculinities, and Reproduction” with sociologist Sebastian Mohr, and Seminal: On Sperm, Health, and Politics with bioethicist Lisa Campo-Engelstein and physician Brian T. Nguyen. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Elle.

Professor Almeling’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. At Yale, she holds courtesy appointments in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the Institution for Social and Policy Research, the School of Public Health, and the School of Medicine. She is Chair-elect of the Science, Knowledge, and Technology section of the American Sociological Association

Conference Registration

Registration is required for this event, registration fee is $51.75.