Saskatchewan’s National Biotech Week Events

With National Biotechnology Week in its sixth year, events are planned across Canada to promote awareness and to celebrate the benefits of biotechnology. The City of Saskatoon, the City of Regina and the Province of Saskatchewan have officially proclaimed September 18 - 25, 2009 as Biotech Week.

Biotechnology in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan hosts over 30 percent of Canada’s agricultural biotechnology activity, with many other areas developing, such as genomics, plant-made pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Two university campuses and three research parks, along with numerous research institutions and technical training centres, create a science cluster - a great benefit to businesses, from start-up firms to international success stories. Life science discoveries foster new business opportunities in the areas of biofuels and bioproducts, functional foods and natural health products. Outstanding science R&D infrastructure, a talented workforce, quality raw materials and a solid business environment make Saskatchewan the perfect place for bio-business.

Click here for information about the Saskatchewan organizing committee for National Biotechnology Week.
 

Hands-on biotech experiments led by U of S scientists, in the labs at U of S College of Agriculture & Bioresources. This year, Education Outreach Day is offered to students in grades 10-12.  In past years, workshops included DNA extraction, fingerprinting, The Biodiesel Funhouse, dissection of a pig heart, to name a few. For details about this year's labs, and how to sign up, please contact:
Jon Treloar, Community Liaison Coordinator, College of Agriculture & Bioresources, U of S by email, or telephone: 306-966-6646
 

Hosted by:

 

Thank you to National Research Council - Plant Biotechnology Institute for providing students with  transportation.

Technology Commercialization & "Strategic Alliances" presented by Sanj Singh, Director U of S Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence and President of Ade Therapeutics Inc.

Sept. 23rd, 2009 - 11:45am to 1:00pm
Basement Auditorium - VIDO Saskatoon
120 Veterinary Road, University of Saskatchewan

Developing ‘Strategic Alliances’ is an innovative way of enhancing a technologies value and facilitating the management of the significant resources and costs needed to get a technology to market. In this seminar you will gain an understanding of why Strategic Alliances are necessary, along with an introduction on how to develop a Strategic Alliances strategy. This will be accomplished by discussing an example of how a SK company, Ade Therapeutics is utilizing Strategic Alliances in the development and commercialization of its technology.

This is a FREE event, and lunch will be provided, but space is limited so registration is required.

To register, or for more information, click here.

Hosted by:

Education Outreach at Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (SIAST) will inform teachers and counselors about opportunities that exist in biotechnology for their students after high school. Participants will take part in hands-on biotech activities that will give them ideas for classroom activities, and help them inspire their students to pursue a life science career.

CLICK HERE for more information about this program, or contact Dr. Joanne Post, Program Head, Biotechnology & Veterinary Technology, SIAST Kelsey Campus, by email or telephone: 306-659-4087.

hosted by:

Why biotechnology? What are the benefits? How does biotechnology affect our everyday lives? And how can we get students interested in following a life-sciences career path?

We are raising a toast to the science of biotechnology! Invited speakers will lend information about the role of biotechnology in our lives, along with insight into business opportunities presented by biotechnology.

Thursday, Sept. 24
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Boffin’s Club
106-111 Research Drive
Innovation Place, Saskatoon

Speakers:
Dr. Scott Napper a U of S Associate Professor of Biochemistry, has twice been awarded the U of S Teaching Excellence Award. Come and hear about his lab, his students and his research as the Program Manager of Emerging Diseases at VIDO.

Dr. Monique Haakensen, a young researcher with a freshly minted PhD, will talk about science as a career, and her research - which just happens to be on the preservation of beer.

Food and entertainment is part of the package at this networking event. Music by Mykal Gambull.

This event is FREE, but space is limited, so register early!

To register, contact Allison Sigstad at Ag-West Bio (306-975-1939) or click here.

Sponsored by Novozymes Biologicals, Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority and Saskatchewan Food Centre

On September 28, stakeholders and politicians are invited to hear experts talk about the benefits of biotechnology at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina, along with other activities to help promote and celebrate biotechnology in Saskatchewan. The reception will help wind-up a week of activities National Biotechnology Week.

The day will begin with the movie, “Cancer Warriors” in the Saskatchewan Science Centre’s Kramer IMAX Theatre. Next, local politicians will have an opportunity to interact with students – tomorrow’s innovators – making biodiesel during an interactive workshop. The “Flower Power” interpretive biodiesel trailer will park in front of the legislative assembly in the morning, moving to the Science Centre for the afternoon’s activities.

Highlights of the closing reception will include presentations by keynote speakers: Dr. Andrew Potter is Director and CEO of VIDO / InterVac, the world-leading vaccine research and development organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Len Juras is Senior Scientist at Dow AgroSciences, a major international company with a significant research presence in our province. Dr. Peter Phillips, Professor in the new Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, is an expert in the field of bioeconomy policy who has authored numerous books on intellectual property, regulations and genomics. His research team recently received a $5.4 million Genome Canada grant entitled 'Value Generation Through Genomics (VALGEN).

Saskatchewan Science Centre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive, Regina

Agenda:
IMAX Theatre Presentation: 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon
Biodiesel interactive workshop: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Speakers & Reception: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Speakers:

National Advocacy Day has been rescheduled to September 29th. CEOs of biotechnology organizations from across the country will gather on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to discuss and promote the benefits and spin-offs of biotechnology with ministers and the opposition parties.

For more about National Biotechnology Week, go to http://www.imagenenation.ca