Scientists and celebrities, politicians and bioethicists, lawyers and the Pope--nowadays, everyone seems to be fighting about stem cells. Some say that these tiny bits of tissue can help us defeat disease and disability, while others argue that they are robbing us of our humanity. What's the truth?

Journalists and editors are invited to find out. As a guest of The New York Times Company Foundation's Institute for Journalists, explore the stem-cell debate with some of the nation's leading scientists, bioethicists, clinicians, and reporters. During a long weekend in May, you will be brought into the midst of the story; you will hear about the potential and the pitfalls of stem cells, learn about what they are and how scientists use them and why they are so controversial. You will meet the people who are the generals in the battles over stem cells, and you will visit a laboratory that's engaged in stem-cell research.

You will come away not only with story ideas, but also with a deep knowledge that will allow you to cover a war of ideas from the frontline--a war that will shape science, medicine, and policy. It is a war that will be fought for years to come.