Lifelines

CANCER RESEARCH DEBATE:Biobanking for cancer research and better treatment is the theme of a public debate on Monday at 6pm in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 6 Kildare St, Dublin 2.

Biobanking involves the storage of cancer tissue samples from cancer operations for cancer research. The aim of the meeting, which will be addressed by experts in pathology, is to inform the public about the proposed development of an all-Ireland cancer biobank. Tel: 01-8639765 for more details.

CATERING FOR THE WORKING PARENT:Meeting children's needs when parents work is the theme of the annual public lecture of the Social Work and Social Policy Department at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) tonight at 6pm. The speaker is Jane Waldfogel, professor of social work at Columbia University in the US.

She will talk about how public policy hasn't kept pace with the lives of working families and how parents need more flexibility in work and quality after-school programmes.

The lecture will be held in the David Lecture Theatre in the Arts Building of TCD.

HOUSING DESIGN GUIDELINES:A new book on housing design guidelines has been published by the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland. The publication, which will be of use to architects, planners and builders, contains information on sizes and measurements for new and adapted buildings for people with disabilities. Tel: 01-8780247 or see www.aoti.ie to buy copies.

CARDBOARD CITIZEN'S JACKSON FOR PUBLIC INTERVIEW:Adrian Jackson is an international theatre director and founder of Cardboard Citizens, an organisation which works with homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers.

He has also worked with the award-winning Brazilian theatre director, writer and politician Augusto Boal. Adrian Jackson will participate in a public interview on Saturday at 2.15pm in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry, Co Down.

Booking essential through Smashing Times Theatre Company. Tel: 01-8656613. See also www.smashingtimes.ie