New Brunswick
BioAtlantech and Science East are coordinating the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC). Each year, 14 Canadian regional biotechnology competitions are held with the regional first place teams advancing to the national competition. The purpose of this program is to encourage Grade 10 to 12 students to design and carry out original experiments under the guidance of industry, university and government mentors. The SABC is a really exciting way for students to learn what scientists do and to perform experiments where the answers are unknown and mistakes sometimes lead ot amazing discoveries. Participating in the SABC nurtures interest in the biological sciences, helps to shape the career paths for students and provides up to $6,000 in cash prizes which is shared between the winners and their schools.
To provide some insight into the program, below is the list of participants and projects from last year’s competition. The topics may seem daunting, but do not be intimidated. Most of these students entered the SABC with very little science background. Participate and be amazed at what you learn in such a short time!
This year, SABC has implemented a “rolling review” process meaning proposals for this year’s competition will be approved within 2 weeks of receiving the application instead of after the December or January meeting by the Evaluation Committee. In addition, the SABC competition will be held 2 weeks earlier than in previous years. Completing a project before this date will require an early start. The deadline for applying is December 7, 2009. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.
The New Brunswick SABC Regional competition will be held April 7-8, 2010 in Fredericton.
Participants from last year:
Yoojin Kim from Fredericton High School, Fredericton, NB – The Effect and Result of Bisphenol A in Fruit Flies. Mentored by Dr. Denise Clark, University of New Brunswick.
Brian O’Rourke, Fraser Burns, Jared Valdron, and Dianna Go from Riverview High School, Riverview, NB – HIV: Attempted Synthesis of Novel Antiviral Compounds. Mentored by Dr. Andrew Grant, Mount Allison University.
Joey Heath and Maria DiCarlo from Leo Hayes High School, Fredericton, NB – Got Lipid. Mentored by Dr. Dion Durnford, University of New Brunswick.
Lucinda DeRoose and Edith Haas from Leo Hayes High School, Fredericton, NB – The Effect of Climate Change on the Symbiotic Relationship between Mycorrhiza and Trees. Mentored by Dr. Mike Lavigne and Dr. Chris Lucarotti, Canadian Forest Service.
Jessica Fitzherbert, Kiersten Nissen, Breanna DeLong, and Courtney Skinner from Southern Victoria High School – The Role of Oats and Broccoli in Inhibiting Late Blight on Potatoes. Mentored by Mr. David Wattie, Potato Development Centre.
Tyler Valdron, Nick Metivier, and Charles Cook from Riverview High School – Heat Shock Protein 70 Antibodies for the Analysis of Stress Resistance in Agricultural Plants. Mentored by Dr. Amanda Cockshutt, Environmental Proteomics.
Matthew Nickerson, Emily Nickerson, Benjamin Howard, and Bob Sun from Fredericton High School, Fredericton, NB – QTL Mapping of Black Spruce for Adaptive Traits. Mentored by Dr. Om Rajora, University of New Brunswick.
Flavio Stasi, Jeremy Doucet, and Leia Green from Bathurst High School, Bathurst, NB – Reducing Pollutants with Microorganisms. Mentored by Mr. Mathieu Allain, CCNB Bathurst.
Ryan Lane and Emily Prosser from Leo Hayes High School – Drought Resistance in Mutant arabidopsis. Mentored by Dr. Helen Tai, Potato Research Centre.
Rebecca Demmings, Megan Sullivan and Kelsey Nissan from Southern Victoria High School – Developing a Use for Carbon Capture from Potatoes. Mentored by Mr. David Wattie, Potato Development Centre.
For more information about the SABC, call Karen Matheson at (506) 457-2340 ext. 27 or e-mail sABC@bioatlantech.nb.ca