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
SABC 2011 Student Presentation Videos
June 17, 2011 by admin
Newfoundland and Labrador: Tea Time! Is Green Tea the Ticket to Better Heart Health?
Prince Edward Island: Students find fungus that eats oil
Nova Scotia: Student grows bacteria that could aid oil spill cleanups
New Brunswick: Coming to grips with the health dangers of pesticides
Montreal: Students find vegetable-based stabilizers to remove animal ingredients from sorbet
Coming soon.
Greater Toronto: Toronto student “hacks” supercomputer network to find cure for CF
Coming soon.
Southwestern Ontario: Turning an noxious weed into a green herbicide
Northern Manitoba: Student Finds Speed Treatment For Faster Growing Veggies
Manitoba: Grade 12 student opens door to treatment of incurable leukemia
Coming soon.
Calgary: Towards a new line of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
British Columbia: BC student uses 3D imaging to show how drinking alcohol shrinks brain cells
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.
Exciting news for the 5th National Bioscience Educators’ Conference!
March 7, 2011 by admin
Thanks to our supporters, registration for the 5th National Bioscience Educators’ Conference is now free. Everyone who has registered prior to this announcement will be reimbursed. Please contact info@bioscienceeducation.ca or call 416-640-0206 for more information.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Michele Bahr, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Dr. Hélène N. LeBlanc, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Mr. Glen Kim, 2010 Winner of the Ontario Genomics Institute Teaching Award
BEC’s flagship program, the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge, receives one of 12 honourable mention awards
May 13, 2010 by admin
BEC’s flagship program, the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge, received one of 12 honourable mention awards in the 2010 Global Best Awards for the Americas region, presented by The Conference Board of Canada in collaboration with the International Partnership Network.
“The awards celebrate outstanding partnerships that have a significant impact on the communities in which they operate,” said Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning.
The awards were announced on April 28 at the 10th International Education Business Partnership Conference in Toronto.
The 2010 Biotechnology Initiative Lectures and Merck Frosst “Exploring Minds” Workshops
March 10, 2010 by admin
Once again, the TBI Explore Biotechnology lectures and Merck Frosst Exploring Minds workshops, held concurrently with the SABC competition, will be available free of charge, to high school classes accompanied by their teachers. The lectures and workshops are made available by the generous sponsorship of The Biotechnology Initiative and Merck Frosst respectively.
The TBI Lecture Series and Merck Frost” Exploring Minds” Workshops take place at York University on Tuesday April 6th and Wednesday April 7th, 2010. Venues include the Accolade West Building, and the Research Tower. The Merck Frosst Workshops take place in Room 280, York Lanes, adjacent to the Research Tower.
Registration for these lectures must be done through the Bioscience Education Canada office at 416-640-0206 – Email. We ask that you try to book your classes for two lectures and a workshop.
Program and Session Descriptors (pdf)
Bioscience Education Canada, MINDSET and Life Sciences at Red River College, Winnipeg would like to thank all the supporters, speakers and participants
February 22, 2010 by admin
The National Bioscience Educators’ Conference 2010 was a great success. Conference topics included the Promise of Biotechnology for the 21st century, Agricultural Biotechnology, Genomics, Infectious Disease, Careers and Skills Development, Video Gaming, Integration of Technology in Education and Bioscience in Space. Tours were generously provided by many institutes in Winnipeg and Genome Prairie provided a viewing of the movie “The Cancer Warrior”. For a full list of topics, read the NBEC Program.
Presentations will be available through the Associates section of the Bioscience Education Canada website.
Stay tuned for further information about the National Bioscience Educators’ Conference in February 2011.
Generously supported by The Council of Biotechnology Information, BIOTECanada, Gowlings, Lafleur and Henderson, Monsanto, Microsoft Canada, Genome Prairie, Spongelab Interactive, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, Cangene Corporation, National Research Council Canada, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), the Ontario Genomics Institute, GameOn Manitoba
Wrap up and Sponsor Thank Yous (pdf)
Mark your calendars for NBEC in February 2011.
Fourth National Bioscience Educators Conference and Biotech Alive! Student Biotechnology Conference
February 15, 2010 by admin
Fourth National Bioscience Educators Conference and Biotech Alive Program
Biotech Lab Course for High School Teachers
July 6, 2009 by admin
Biotech Lab Course for High School Teachers
Seneca @ York August 17-19, 2009 (9am – 4pm)
Centennial College August 24-26, 2009 (9am – 4pm)
Biotech Lab Course for High School Teachers Secure Online Registration
2009 National SABC Competition Winners
May 20, 2009 by admin
A group shot of all finalists standing in front of the National Research Council Canada building May 6th, 2009.
Scott Adams (center) with Mark Lievonen (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
1st Prize Winner, Scott Adams, Saskatoon
Joseph McNeil (center) with Colette Rivet (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
2nd Prize Winner, Joseph McNeil, Nova Scotia
Binudith Warnakulasooriya (center) with Dr. Pierre Coulombe (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
3rd Prize Winner, Binudith Warnakulasooriya, Manitoba
Caitlin Martin Newnham (center) with Dr. Martin Godbout (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
4th Prize Winner, Caitlin Martin Newnham, Southwestern Ontario
Melanie Gallant (center) with Manon Harvey (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
5th Prize Winner, Melanie Gallant, Prince Edward Island
Kirsten Larson (center) with Catherine Conrad (left) and Tony Clement (right) at the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge 2009 Competition
Commercial Prize Winner, Kirsten Larson, Northern Manitoba
The first national competition among the first place winners from each regional SABC program was held at the BIO 2002 conference in Toronto in June 2002. More than $18,000 in cash prizes was awarded to the competing teams. For the past five years, the national competition was held via video-conferencing facilities from the National Research Council of Canada. Each first place regional team presented their research to a panel of judges gathered at the NRC headquarters in Ottawa.
In 2009, with support from BioTalent Canada the competition will be face-to-face where 14 regional winners will compete for the National title in Ottawa. The top 2 winners of the National SABC Competition will be able to compete in the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge at the Biotechnology Industry Organizations (BIO) Annual International Convention.