Barreto and Gibson join BEC Patrons’ Council
December 4, 2012 by admin
Toronto, Dec. 3, 2012 — Dr. Luis Barreto, of Toronto, and John Gibson, of Markham, have joined the Patrons Council of Bioscience Education Canada (BEC), Jeff Graham, Chair of the BEC Board of Directors, announced today.
Dr. Barreto is an internationally-known medical doctor, scientist and business executive who has contributed significantly to the development of lifesaving vaccines around the world. He is the former Vice President of Immunization and Science Policy at Sanofi Pasteur, and continues his work in healthcare, public health and vaccinology as President of Dr. Luis Barreto & Associates. He is a Senior Advisor to the National Research Council of Canada and Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC) at Health Sciences North. He also currently serves on the Boards of Directors and advisory committees of numerous organizations, including Research Canada, March of Dimes Canada, VIDO/InterVac and the Masters of Science in Global Health program at McMaster and Maastricht Universities.
Dr. Barreto has worked passionately to support the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada, BEC’s flagship program, since its inception in 1994. For the past decade, he has been Chair of the program’s national judging panel.
Mr. John Gibson serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of E.E.S Financial Services Ltd., Canada’s first and oldest fee-only ‘time based’ personal financial planning company that he founded in 1968. Mr. Gibson has served as a director of a number of private sector and charitable organizations including the Chairman’s Campaign Cabinet for Markham Stouffville Hospital, the Children’s Aid Foundation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. He is also a former President of the Optimist Club (Montreal Chapter). In addition, Mr. Gibson is a director of a TSE-listed company – Enghouse Systems Ltd, a leading global provider of enterprise software solutions serving a variety of vertical markets.
Dr. Barreto and Mr. Gibson join the following distinguished Canadians on the BEC Patrons Council: Dr. Alan Bernstein, Dr. William Cochrane, Dr. John Dirks, Dr. John Evans and Dr. Peter Hackett.
BEC is a non-profit, charitable Canadian science education organization which supports the expansion of Canada’s bioeconomy by educating students, teachers and the public about the economic and social benefits of using biotechnology to create new drugs, foods, fuels and solutions to environmental problems. In addition to the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada, BEC offers a number of specialized educational programs in the life sciences across Canada.
For more information, contact:
Rick Levick, Bioscience Education Canada
(416) 640-0206
rick.levick@bioscienceeducation.ca
www.bioscienceeducation.ca
Eighth annual Gairdner Foundation Lectures at York University
September 18, 2012 by admin
Dear Colleague,
You and your students are invited to the eighth annual Gairdner Foundation Lectures at York University on Wednesday, October 24, 10 am to 11:30 am. This exclusive event is for teachers and senior-level science students from a select group of schools. The Gairdner Lectures provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you and your students to hear from cutting-edge scientists describing their outstanding achievements.
This year, we are pleased to welcome:
Dr. Michael Rosbash, 2012 Gairdner International Award Recipient
PhD Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Professor of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
“Circadian rhythms: Molecules, neurons and circuits”
and
Dr. Cheryl Arrowsmith, Senior Scientist, Ontario Cancer Institute
Member of the Gairdner Medical Review Panel
“Seeing is believing: what do biomolecules look like?â€
The Lectures at York are presented jointly by the Gairdner Foundation and York’s Faculty of Science & Engineering (FSE). The Faculty of Science & Engineering is one of Canada’s leading teaching and research institutions – providing innovative and interdisciplinary programs to more than 4,000 undergraduate and 400 graduate students in a variety of pure and applied programs, including the areas of Life Sciences, Health Sciences and Engineering.
Please book early as this is a popular event and space is limited. To reserve your spot in advance or for more information, please contact Kate Duncan at 416-736-2100 x 40010 or kduncan@yorku.ca. We look forward to welcoming you and your students to campus for this prestigious and engaging event.
Warm regards,
Kate Duncan
On Campus Programs, Office of Recruitment
York University
Eighth annual Gairdner Foundation Lectures at York University (pdf)
Back to School with Janelle Tam by Dalton McGuinty
September 7, 2012 by admin
Posted by Dalton McGuinty
Many people don’t know this, but I got my bachelor’s degree in science at McMaster University. I thought about being a surgeon. My mother is still disappointed. She often jokes, “At my age, I need a doctor — what am I going to do with a Premier?â€
There’s no question that Janelle Tam’s parents are tremendously proud. She’s a 16-year old science whiz, badminton player, musician and debater from Waterloo Collegiate. As students head back to the classroom today, I hope you’ll take a moment to watch her inspiring story. She’s making discoveries that are grabbing the attention of renowned biotech researchers — and she is the winner of the prestigious Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge. Her findings have the potential to change how we fight disease and the signs of aging using nano-particles from trees.
Janelle’s commitment and the hard work of all our students reaffirms my belief that there is no higher priority than education. It’s the single most important investment we can make in our future. We owe it to students like Janelle to give them their best possible start so they can go on to do exciting things that improve quality of life for all of us. More than that, providing a great education to our children is how we build a stronger society. It’s how we bring up engaged citizens who care for one another. It’s how we build a productive workforce that supports a strong economy.
So to all our students and teachers, best wishes for a great year.
Lab Tools for School (LTFS) Program
July 27, 2012 by chockley
Is the equipment in your lab collecting dust and taking up space because it is not being used?
Why not donate it to the Bioscience Education Canada Lab Tools for Schools program!
We are collecting surplus laboratory equipment in good working order or requiring minor repair – to create traveling biotechnology toolkits for high schools in the Greater Toronto Area. The kits will expose students to the techniques of DNA isolation, restriction enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis.
Here are the components we are looking for:
- Micropipettors – 0.5 – 10 ul, 10 – 100 ul, 100-1000 ul
- Agarose gel electrophoresis systems and power packs
- Microcentrifuges
- Glassware- bottles, beakers, flasks
- Racks – for test tubes and microcentrifuge tubes
- Squeeze bottles
We will also accept other relevant pieces of equipment such as UV boxes, PCR machines, cold transport boxes, mini-centrifuges, protein electrophoresis apparatuses, etc.
The toolkits will be stocked with consumables such as DNA ladder, restriction enzymes, dyes, and buffers. To support the ongoing equipment of these kits we will gladly accept cash donations, and in turn provide charitable tax receipts for your contribution.
Please contact us at <info@bioscienceeducation.ca> or 416-640-0206 to donate your equipment and arrange for pick up/shipping, or to make a contribution to the program.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Canada’s youth bring real-life science innovations to life as nine regional winners head to national competition
May 2, 2012 by admin
SBCC National Awards ceremony:
Tuesday, May 8, 1 pm EDT, National Research Council Headquarters, Ottawa
TORONTO, ON, May 1, 2012 – After months of preparation, research and collaboration with top university mentors, an elite group of 13 high school whiz kids from across the country will be in Ottawa May 7-8 competing for Canada’s ultimate student biotech science prizes in the 2012 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC).
The National SBCC Awards ceremony will be held Tuesday May 8, 1 pm EDT, at the National Research Council Headquarters, Ottawa, with The Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources Skills Development Canada as keynote speaker.
Read more
Lecture and Workshop Series for Secondary School Teachers
March 20, 2012 by admin
Here is a chance for your students to hear about some of the research that is being done in Southern Ontario and to participate in laboratory or computer workshops. Register your classes for 2 lectures and 1 workshop.
Bioscience Education Canada once again is offering a free lecture and workshop series for high school students. Teachers are asked to register their classes for 2 lectures and 1 workshop. Registration must be made to Bioscience Education Canada at info@bioscienceeducation.ca or by phone at 416-640-0206.
In addition to lectures and “wet lab†workshops delivered by the Faculty of Seneca College there are computer workshops subject to restrictions.
• On April 26th, the two bioinformatics workshops, “Surfing the Human Genomeâ€, is restricted to Grade 12 students because the content is very curriculum specific.
• On April 25th, the computer workshops titled “Explore the Science through Game Based Learning “ delivered by Spongelab are an educational video game competition. The capacity for each of the 4 sessions is 40 students. Each school is restricted to the participation of 10 of its students but students are competing as individuals.
After teachers have registered their classes for the lectures and workshops they can register up to 10 students for the competition for FREE before the event at www.spongelab.com but only after the school has been registered for the lectures and workshops.
Toronto-area Student, 16, Uses Supercomputer to Invent New Drug Cocktail to Fight Cystic Fibrosis, Wins Top Prize in National Science Challenge
June 20, 2011 by admin
Greater Toronto Area, Greater Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg students win top national honours for high school biotechnology projects
While many 16-year-olds are content with PlayStation, Toronto-area student Marshall Zhang used the Canadian SCINET supercomputing network to invent a new drug cocktail which could one day help treat cystic fibrosis.
The Grade 11 student at Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill so impressed eight eminent scientists at the National Research Council Canada laboratories in Ottawa they awarded him first prize today in the 2011 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada.
Read more
Special issue of the Canadian Young Scientist Journal devoted to the Sanofi Aventis BioTalent Challenge
May 26, 2011 by admin
Special support by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research has allowed us to provide an opportunity for some SABC 2010 competitors, to publish their work in a professional manner. Publication is the final piece in the real-life research experience that is offered by the Sanofi Aventis BioTalent Challenge. A copy of this special issue has been sent to each of 3200 Canadian secondary schools. You can also see the electronic version of this issue below.
Canadian Young Scientist Journal
Merck “Exploring Minds†Bioscience Lectures and Workshops, April 19th and 20th at Ryerson University
March 29, 2011 by admin
With the generous support of Merck & Co., Bioscience Education Canada is proud to partner with Ryerson University to present this free series of bioscience lectures and workshops for high school students. BEC also appreciates the participation of personnel from eight institutions of research or post-secondary education.
The Lecture and Workshop Series take place on Tuesday April 19th and Wednesday April 20th, 2011 in the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, Ryerson University (245 Church Street). Map (Pass your mouse over a building for its description and photo.)
These annual youth outreach events have been very well attended in the past and it is important for teachers to register their classes early. Registration can be made by contacting Bioscience Education Canada at 416-640-0206 or at info@bioscienceeducation.ca
This year’s group of young investigators have researched topics as diverse as the genetic engineering of pathogen resistance in plants and the practicality of using fruit and vegetable extracts against H. pylori, the causative agent of ulcers. The SABC continues to offer a unique opportunity for curious and creative students to have a “graduate level†research experience under the guidance of professional scientists. Nineteen projects have advanced to the competition this year. The Toronto student teams will compete for $12,000 in cash prizes and scholarships at, Ryerson University on April 19 and 20, 2011. The national competition will be held in Ottawa later in May.
Please read the 2011 Merck Lecture Workshop Schedule and Outlines.
Ontario Science Centre Weston Youth Innovation Award
January 24, 2011 by admin
The Ontario Science Centre “Weston Youth Innovation Award” is given annually by the Ontario Science Centre to encourage and recognize young Canadian innovators.
It provides students aged 14 to 18 a unique vehicle to share their ideas and get the word out to a much larger audience. Along with a cash prize, there is an opportunity for the winner to work with OSC staff to create an animated video promoting his/her work. The English and French websites are here:
2012 Weston Youth Innovation Award
le Prix d’Innovation Weston pour les jeunes 2012
Sabrina Greupner
Manager, Weston Family Innovation Centre
The Ontario Science Centre
Toronto, Canada
www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca
sabrina.greupner@osc.on.ca
phone: (416) 696-3162
fax: (416) 696-3181