A Prince Edward Island high school student has captured fifth place at a national science competition in Ottawa.
Innovative research by seventeen-year-old Melanie Gallant, a Grade 12 student at Ecole Francois Buote, has earned a $1,000 prize at the 2009 National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC).
Ms. Gallant studied a local fresh water fish called the stickleback. The study examined gene expression as a means of screening for hormone-active pesticides in stickleback. The aim of the project was to develop a new method of detecting linuron concentrations in natural water sources. Linuron is a widely-used herbicide in Canada with proven negative effects on ecosystems. The results of the study could help researchers detect levels of pesticides in natural waterways.
Melanie Gallant has been accepted into the Science program at Mount Allison University and intends to major in biology.
“The Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge presents a great opportunity for students,” said Ms. Gallant. “All students with an interest in scientific research and biology should participate in the competition while in high school.”
Melanie gives great credit to her mentors from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, Dr. Michael R. van den Heuvel, a Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity, and Dr. Natasha Hogan. She also gives great credit to her teacher advisor Sarah MacKinnon-Cormier.
Hon. Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, today congratulated Ms. Gallant for representing Prince Edward Island on the National stage.
“PEI’s small size was no disadvantage for this young lady who competed with the best from thirteen other regions in Canada,” said Minister Campbell. “The Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning is a strong supporter of encouraging more students to consider careers in biotechnology. The students in this competition represent some of the brightest young scientists in Canada and I congratulate them all on their outstanding achievements.”
Many participants of the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge pursue careers in biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture and the environment.
The Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge is judged by a panel of experts from the Canadian research community such as renowned researcher Dr. Marin Godbout, President of Genome Canada.
About Sanofi Pasteur Limited and sanofi-aventis:
Sanofi Pasteur Limited is the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group, the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Sanofi Pasteur Limited has a long history of supporting science education at the post-secondary level. In 1994, it recognized the need to engage younger students in biotechnology education, and the initial SABC program was run in conjunction with the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s first meeting in Canada. Since then, the program has expanded to 14 events across Canada and has involved thousands of students. As lead sponsor of the SABC, Sanofi Pasteur is proud to collaborate with partners in government, industry and academia to get high school students engaged in biotechnology. Sanofi Pasteur Limited is Canada’s only full-scale vaccine company, researching, developing and manufacturing in Canada a broad range of human vaccines. With over 1,000 highly-skilled employees, it is one of Canada’s oldest and largest biotech companies. For more information: www.sanofi-pasteur.ca
About BioTalent Canada:
BioTalent Canada helps Canada’s bio-economy industry thrive globally. As a non-profit national organization of innovators leading our bio-economy, BioTalent Canada anticipates needs and creates new opportunities, delivering human resources tools, information and skills development to ensure the industry has access to job-ready people. BioTalent Canada is a Canadian sector council-one of many partnership organizations created to address skills-development issues in key sectors of the economy. For more information: www.biotalent.ca or Colette Rivet, Executive Director, BioTalent Canada 613-235-1402 x 226; coletter@biotalent.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Now in its 16th year, the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC) is a high-level competition that introduces students to the real world of biotechnology by carrying out research projects of their own design. An SABC program has been held in Prince Edward Island since 2004.
The competition mirrors the real world of scientific research by:
• Requiring students to submit research proposals for evaluation by a scientific evaluation committee;
• Providing up to $200 in advance funding to approved student projects;
• Assigning mentors to each team to provide expert advice and access to equipment and supplies;
• Having each student project judged by fellow students (peer review) and by judges representing government, business, academia and the education community.
The competition drives students to broaden their horizons and challenge their intellect. Each of the student teams works with a mentor in their community who provides expert advice and access to equipment and supplies.
Follow-up studies have found that many of the students who compete go on to careers in biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture and the environment.
More than 100 organizations Canada-wide are partnered in this educational outreach initiative.
Regional competition sponsors:
• PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning
• PEI Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
• PEI BioAlliance
• PEI Food Technology Centre
• University of Prince Edward Island
• Neurodyn Inc.
• Atlantic Veterinary College
• NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health
• Holland College
National competition supporters:
• Sanofi pasteur
• BioTalent Canada
• National Research Council of Canada
• Genome Canada
• Canadian Institutes for Health Research
• the Canada Foundation for Innovation
• the Canadian Louis Pasteur Foundation
The project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program.
The national competition offers top prizes ranging from $5,000 to $1,000 plus a special prize for the project deemed to have the greatest commercial potential. Winning student teams share their cash prize with their school. In some cities, winning students also receive university scholarships or summer jobs.
A distinguishing characteristic of the competition is the emphasis judges place on the competitors’ communication of science ideas.
Many regional competition events include lectures by leading local biotechnology researchers, science workshops for students and teachers, and exhibits on biotechnology.