The race is on! Fifth Annual Amazing Biotech Race starts at 1:30 pm today at Innovation Place.
Teams of costumed students will converge upon Innovation Place, to vie for the coveted trophy, while connecting with Saskatoon bioscience companies.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic BioScience Technology Program students are mixed with high school students from Evan Hardy, Nutana and Bedford Road Collegiates, and split into teams to encourage a healthy dose of competition. Innovation Place companies act as checkpoints where students search for clues, complete quick lab “challenges” or answer skill testing questions in order to complete the race.
Following the race, a reception will give the students more visiting time with representatives from the participating companies. Jeremy Lang, president of Open Mind Developments (OMD), will talk to the students about his experience as an entrepreneur in the bioscience industry. OMD develops eco?friendly products using bio?based materials, such as the Pela™ case for iPhones.
Blaine Chartrand, Program Head, BioScience Technology, School of Animal and BioSciences at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and creator of the event says, “We are grateful to the companies who open their doors to the students. It’s a fun way for our students get to meet potential employers, and for the high school students to get a glimpse of what these companies are doing – it could nudge them towards a career in science.”
Ag?West Bio coordinates National Biotech Week activities in Saskatchewan, with a committee from Saskatchewan’s bioscience community. For information about other events in Saskatchewan this week, please visit: www.agwest.sk.ca/events.html.
Download a PDF of this article here.